AutismNCT00095420
Relationship Training for Children With Autism and Their Peers
A study testing Social skills training targeting children with autism, Social skills training of peers without autism and Combination treatment of social skills/education about autism in people with Autism and Autistic Disorder, run by University of California, Los Angeles at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
This study will determine whether peer interaction training interventions are effective in enhancing the social relationships of children with autism. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 6 to 11 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Autism, Autistic Disorder
- What is being tested?
- Social skills training targeting children with autism, Social skills training of peers without autism and Combination treatment of social skills/education about autism
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 60 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- Sep 2003to Jun 2008
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 6 to 11 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child
Who may be able to join
None listed.
Who cannot join
- Mental age-equivalent less than 4 years
- Conditions other than autism, or sensory or motor impairments
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California, 90095
About this study
Official title: Peer Related School Interventions in Autism
This study will determine whether peer interaction training interventions are effective in enhancing the social relationships of children with autism.
Read the detailed description
Children with autism often have poor relationships with other children during their childhood and through their adult lives. A number of peer-related intervention models have been developed, but these models have not been thoroughly reviewed or implemented within the school setting. This study will examine the social inclusion of children with autism, following different peer-related interventions training children with autism and their peers.
Children will be randomly assigned to one of four interventions that comprise all autistic children, all nonautistic children, or a mixed group of both. The first intervention focuses on improving the social skills of autistic children. The second intervention involves educating the peers of autistic children to increase their acceptance of their autistic peers. The third intervention is a combination of the first two interventions. Children assigned to the fourth intervention will receive the usual training offered in their local school districts. Training for each group will be conducted twice a week for 6 weeks.
Characteristics of the autistic child will be assessed through an interview that evaluates intelligence quotient (IQ), language skills, and social interaction. Teachers will be asked to complete a questionnaire describing the autistic child and his or her interaction with peers. The autistic children will complete a friendship survey, clinical global impressions scales, and a battery of neuropsychiatric tests. All assessments will be conducted at study start and again at study completion.
- Conditions
- Autism, Autistic Disorder
- Being tested
- Social skills training targeting children with autism, Social skills training of peers without autism, Combination treatment of social skills/education about autism, Usual training
- Keywords
- Interpersonal Relationships, Child
- Medical subject headings
- Autistic Disorder
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Social skills training targeting children with autismBehavioural
Sessions will focus on improving the social skills of autistic children. Thirty-minute sessions will be held twice a week for 6 weeks.
Social skills training of peers without autismBehavioural
Sessions will involve educating the peers of autistic children to increase their acceptance of their autistic peers. Thirty-minute sessions will be held twice a week for 6 weeks.
Combination treatment of social skills/education about autismBehavioural
The combination treatment includes children with and without autism. Sessions will involve social skills training and education about autism to increase acceptance of autistic peers. Training will be conducted twice a week for 6 weeks
Usual trainingBehavioural
Participants will receive the usual training offered in their local school districts.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Experimental | Participants with autism will receive social skills training targeting children with autism Receives: Behavioral: Social skills training targeting children with autism |
| 2 | Experimental | Participants without autism will receive social skills training to increase acceptance of peers with autism Receives: Behavioral: Social skills training of peers without autism |
| 3 | Experimental | Participants with and without autism will receive a combination treatment of social skills/education about autism Receives: Behavioral: Combination treatment of social skills/education about autism |
| 4 | Active comparator | Participants with and without autism will receive usual training provided by their school district Receives: Behavioral: Usual training |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Social network involvement of autistic children
Measured: Measured before and after treatment and at 3-month follow-up
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted5 Nov 2004 (estimated)
- Study startSep 2003
- Primary completionJun 2008
- Study completionJun 2008
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (5)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for AutismStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of California, Los AngelesThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of California, Los Angeles
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Marian Sigman, Principal investigator, University of California, Los Angeles
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT00095420
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- U54MH068172
- Other IDs
- U54MH068172, DDTR BD-DD
- Status last verified
- Feb 2022
- First submitted
- 4 Nov 2004
- Last updated
- 30 Oct 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
Publications
Anderson A, Locke J, Kretzmann M, Kasari C; AIR-B Network. Social network analysis of children with autism spectrum disorder: Predictors of fragmentation and connectivity in elementary school classrooms. Autism. 2016 Aug;20(6):700-9. doi: 10.1177/1362361315603568. Epub 2015 Nov 13.
PubMed 26567264Locke J, Shih W, Kretzmann M, Kasari C. Examining playground engagement between elementary school children with and without autism spectrum disorder. Autism. 2016 Aug;20(6):653-62. doi: 10.1177/1362361315599468. Epub 2015 Sep 4.
PubMed 26341991Dean M, Kasari C, Shih W, Frankel F, Whitney R, Landa R, Lord C, Orlich F, King B, Harwood R. The peer relationships of girls with ASD at school: comparison to boys and girls with and without ASD. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2014 Nov;55(11):1218-25. doi: 10.1111/jcpp.12242. Epub 2014 Jul 16.
PubMed 25039696Locke J, Rotheram-Fuller E, Kasari C. Exploring the social impact of being a typical peer model for included children with autism spectrum disorder. J Autism Dev Disord. 2012 Sep;42(9):1895-905. doi: 10.1007/s10803-011-1437-0.
PubMed 22215436Kasari C, Rotheram-Fuller E, Locke J, Gulsrud A. Making the connection: randomized controlled trial of social skills at school for children with autism spectrum disorders. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2012 Apr;53(4):431-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2011.02493.x. Epub 2011 Nov 26.
PubMed 22118062
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 30 Oct 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Peer Related School Interventions in Autism
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT00095420
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- U54MH068172
- Conditions
- Autism, Autistic Disorder
- Keywords
- Interpersonal Relationships, Child
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of California, Los AngelesUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
- Study start
- Sep 2003
- Primary completion
- Jun 2008 (actual)
- Study completion
- Jun 2008 (actual)
- First posted
- 5 Nov 2004 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study will determine whether peer interaction training interventions are effective in enhancing the social relationships of children with autism.
Detailed description
Children with autism often have poor relationships with other children during their childhood and through their adult lives. A number of peer-related intervention models have been developed, but these models have not been thoroughly reviewed or implemented within the school setting. This study will examine the social inclusion of children with autism, following different peer-related interventions training children with autism and their peers.
Children will be randomly assigned to one of four interventions that comprise all autistic children, all nonautistic children, or a mixed group of both. The first intervention focuses on improving the social skills of autistic children. The second intervention involves educating the peers of autistic children to increase their acceptance of their autistic peers. The third intervention is a combination of the first two interventions. Children assigned to the fourth intervention will receive the usual training offered in their local school districts. Training for each group will be conducted twice a week for 6 weeks.
Characteristics of the autistic child will be assessed through an interview that evaluates intelligence quotient (IQ), language skills, and social interaction. Teachers will be asked to complete a questionnaire describing the autistic child and his or her interaction with peers. The autistic children will complete a friendship survey, clinical global impressions scales, and a battery of neuropsychiatric tests. All assessments will be conducted at study start and again at study completion.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 4
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Experimental | Behavioral: Social skills training targeting children with autismParticipants with autism will receive social skills training targeting children with autism |
| 2 | Experimental | Behavioral: Social skills training of peers without autismParticipants without autism will receive social skills training to increase acceptance of peers with autism |
| 3 | Experimental | Behavioral: Combination treatment of social skills/education about autismParticipants with and without autism will receive a combination treatment of social skills/education about autism |
| 4 | Active comparator | Behavioral: Usual trainingParticipants with and without autism will receive usual training provided by their school district |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 6 to 11 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child
Key inclusion criteria (0 listed)
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Mental age-equivalent less than 4 years
- Conditions other than autism, or sensory or motor impairments
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Social skills training targeting children with autismSessions will focus on improving the social skills of autistic children. Thirty-minute sessions will be held twice a week for 6 weeks. | Behavioural | 1 |
| Social skills training of peers without autismSessions will involve educating the peers of autistic children to increase their acceptance of their autistic peers. Thirty-minute sessions will be held twice a week for 6 weeks. | Behavioural | 2 |
| Combination treatment of social skills/education about autismThe combination treatment includes children with and without autism. Sessions will involve social skills training and education about autism to increase acceptance of autistic peers. Training will be conducted twice a week for 6 weeks | Behavioural | 3 |
| Usual trainingParticipants will receive the usual training offered in their local school districts. | Behavioural | 4 |
Primary outcome
Social network involvement of autistic children
Time frame: Measured before and after treatment and at 3-month follow-up
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 30 Oct 2025.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 26567264Anderson A, Locke J, Kretzmann M, Kasari C; AIR-B Network. Social network analysis of children with autism spectrum disorder: Predictors of fragmentation and connectivity in elementary school classrooms. Autism. 2016 Aug;20(6):700-9. doi: 10.1177/1362361315603568. Epub 2015 Nov 13.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 26341991Locke J, Shih W, Kretzmann M, Kasari C. Examining playground engagement between elementary school children with and without autism spectrum disorder. Autism. 2016 Aug;20(6):653-62. doi: 10.1177/1362361315599468. Epub 2015 Sep 4.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 25039696Dean M, Kasari C, Shih W, Frankel F, Whitney R, Landa R, Lord C, Orlich F, King B, Harwood R. The peer relationships of girls with ASD at school: comparison to boys and girls with and without ASD. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2014 Nov;55(11):1218-25. doi: 10.1111/jcpp.12242. Epub 2014 Jul 16.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 22215436Locke J, Rotheram-Fuller E, Kasari C. Exploring the social impact of being a typical peer model for included children with autism spectrum disorder. J Autism Dev Disord. 2012 Sep;42(9):1895-905. doi: 10.1007/s10803-011-1437-0.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 22118062Kasari C, Rotheram-Fuller E, Locke J, Gulsrud A. Making the connection: randomized controlled trial of social skills at school for children with autism spectrum disorders. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2012 Apr;53(4):431-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2011.02493.x. Epub 2011 Nov 26.
- Click here for more information about this study and others at the University of California, Los Angeles Center for Autism Research and Treatment Web site.Link provided by the sponsor.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Marian Sigman principal investigator
University of California, Los Angeles
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Social skills training targeting children with autism, Social skills training of peers without autism and Combination treatment of social skills/education about autism in people with Autism and Autistic Disorder, run by University of California, Los Angeles at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 0 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 30 Oct 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Social network involvement of autistic children (time frame: Measured before and after treatment and at 3-month follow-up). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT00095420, which also lists 5 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 30 Oct 2025.