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Autism Spectrum DisorderNCT05221515

The Effectiveness of an Attention-based Intervention for School Aged Autistic Children With Anger Regulating Problems

A study testing Anger can go! and Parent psycho-education in people with Autism Spectrum Disorder, run by VU University of Amsterdam at 2 sites in Netherlands.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

Children on the autism spectrum often show aggressive behavior. Treatment can train children to be more aware of their emotions. Investigators studied the effectiveness of an attention-based intervention tailored on aggressive behavior problems and the use of anger coping strategies of school aged autistic children… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 8 to 13 years
Conditions the study is for
Autism Spectrum Disorder
What is being tested?
Anger can go! and Parent psycho-education
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
51 participants
Where
2 sitesNetherlands
Study dates
1 Jan 2011to 30 Oct 2018
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 8 to 13 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Child

Who may be able to join

  • Primary diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder
  • age 8 - 13
  • seeking treatment for aggressive behaviour problems

Who cannot join

  • psychotropic medication still being set

Trial locations and contacts

2 sites in 1 country.

Netherlands2 sites
  • De Bascule

    Amsterdam, North Holland

  • Wei43

    Amsterdam

Other trials in Netherlands

About this study

Official title: The Effectiveness of an Attention-based Intervention for School Aged Autistic Children With Anger Regulating Problems: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Children on the autism spectrum often show aggressive behavior. Treatment can train children to be more aware of their emotions. Investigators studied the effectiveness of an attention-based intervention tailored on aggressive behavior problems and the use of anger coping strategies of school aged autistic children with anger regulation problems.

Read the detailed description

Investigators studied the effectiveness of an attention-based intervention tailored on aggressive behavior problems and the use of anger coping strategies of school aged autistic children with anger regulation problems. Using a randomized controlled trial (RCT), children were allocated to the attention-based treatment in combination with a psycho-educational parent-training (treatment group) or to the parent-training only (active control group).

Being tested
Anger can go!, Parent psycho-education
Keywords
Autism spectrum disorder, Anger, Randomized controlled trial
Medical subject headings
Autism Spectrum Disorder

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Anger can go!Behavioural

    The intervention "Anger Can Go!" was designed to treat anger regulation problems in autistic children aged 8 to 13 years old. The intervention consists of nine sessions of 60 minutes and is divided in four phases. Phase 1: psycho-education, affect-education and measuring anger with an anger-thermometer. This is a self-report scale presented as the drawing of a thermometer, that allows the child to indicate his level of anger, as linked to specific bodily and behavioral representations on a scale from 0 to 3. Phase 2: making a functional behavior assessment (FBA) and taking a time-out at a low anger-level (between 1 and 2 on the scale 0 to 3) to prevent aggressive outbursts. Phase 3: taking a time-out at a low anger-level (between 1 and 2 on the scale 0 to 3) to prevent aggressive outbursts, shifting attention away from aversive stimuli, to cope with the stress of the anger provoking situation. Phase 4: creating solutions to cope with an anger provoking situation.

  • Parent psycho-educationBehavioural

    Three psycho-educational parent group sessions (take place before the children's sessions in intervention group). Parents meet with other parents and a therapist to learn about the nature of their Expressed Emotion (EE) and how it relates to the child's aggressive behavior.

Study groups in NCT05221515
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Intervention conditionExperimentalParticipants received both parent training and child-focussed treatment
Receives: Behavioral: Anger can go!; Behavioral: Parent psycho-education
Control conditionActive comparatorParticipants received only parent training
Receives: Behavioral: Parent psycho-education

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Aggressive behavior problems: Arguing, Temper tantrums, Destroying things and Physical violence

    Questionnaire Social Behavior (QSB) measuring behavioral and emotion regulation problems typical for autistic children.

    Measured: At week 0, before the intervention group received treatment

  2. Aggressive behavior problems: Arguing, Temper tantrums, Destroying things and Physical violence

    Questionnaire Social Behavior (QSB) measuring behavioral and emotion regulation problems typical for autistic children.

    Measured: 9 weeks later after treatment

  3. Aggressive behavior problems: aggression as reported by parent

    The aggression sub scale from the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Minimum value: 0, maximum value: 36. A higher score means more aggression.

    Measured: At week 0, before the intervention group received treatment

  4. Aggressive behavior problems: aggression as reported by parent

    The aggression sub scale from the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Minimum value: 0, maximum value: 36. A higher score means more aggression.

    Measured: 9 weeks later after treatment

  5. Aggressive behavior problems: aggression as reported by teacher

    The aggression sub scale from the Teacher Rating Form (TRF). Minimum value: 0, maximum value: 36. A higher score means more aggression.

    Measured: At week 0, before the intervention group received treatment

  6. Aggressive behavior problems: aggression as reported by teacher

    The aggression sub scale from the Teacher Rating Form (TRF). Minimum value: 0, maximum value: 36. A higher score means more aggression.

    Measured: 9 weeks later after treatment

  7. Anger coping strategies

    The Behavioral Anger Response Questionnaire for children (BARQ-C)

    Measured: At week 0, before the intervention group received treatment

  8. Anger coping strategies

    The Behavioral Anger Response Questionnaire for children (BARQ-C)

    Measured: 9 weeks later after treatment

Secondary outcomes (8)
  1. Quality of life of the child

    Pediatric Quality of life inventory (Peds ql): Physical Functioning, Emotional Functioning, Social Functioning and School Functioning.

    Measured: At week 0, before the intervention group received treatment

  2. Quality of life of the child

    Pediatric Quality of life inventory (Peds ql): Physical Functioning, Emotional Functioning, Social Functioning and School Functioning.

    Measured: 9 weeks later after treatment

  3. Social impairment due to autism symptoms

    Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS). Minimum value: 0, maximum value: 195. A higher score means more impairments.

    Measured: At week 0, before the intervention group received treatment

  4. Social impairment due to autism symptoms

    Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS). Minimum value: 0, maximum value: 195. A higher score means more impairments.

    Measured: 9 weeks later after treatment

  5. Parental stress

    Nijmeegse Ouderlijke Stress Index (NOSI). Minimum value: 6, maximum value: 66. A higher score means more stress

    Measured: At week 0, before the intervention group received treatment

  6. Parental stress

    Nijmeegse Ouderlijke Stress Index (NOSI). Minimum value: 6, maximum value: 66. A higher score means more stress

    Measured: 9 weeks later after treatment

  7. Parental well-being

    Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90). Minimum value: 0, maximum value: 360. A higher score indicates a worse well-being.

    Measured: At week 0, before the intervention group received treatment

  8. Parental well-being

    Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90). Minimum value: 0, maximum value: 360. A higher score indicates a worse well-being.

    Measured: 9 weeks later after treatment

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted3 Feb 2022
  2. Study start1 Jan 2011
  3. Primary completion30 Oct 2018
  4. Study completion30 Oct 2018

Resources

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
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
51 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05221515
Sponsor's protocol ID
BOBpaper2021
Status last verified
Feb 2022
First submitted
23 Nov 2021
Last updated
3 Feb 2022
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Carr, E. G., & Horner, R. H. (2007). The expanding vision of positive behavior support: Research perspectives on happiness, helpfulness, hopefulness. Journal of positive behavior interventions, 9(1), 3-14.

  • Chalfant AM, Rapee R, Carroll L. Treating anxiety disorders in children with high functioning autism spectrum disorders: a controlled trial. J Autism Dev Disord. 2007 Nov;37(10):1842-57. doi: 10.1007/s10803-006-0318-4. Epub 2006 Dec 15.

    PubMed 17171539
  • Fung LK, Mahajan R, Nozzolillo A, Bernal P, Krasner A, Jo B, Coury D, Whitaker A, Veenstra-Vanderweele J, Hardan AY. Pharmacologic Treatment of Severe Irritability and Problem Behaviors in Autism: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Pediatrics. 2016 Feb;137 Suppl 2:S124-35. doi: 10.1542/peds.2015-2851K.

    PubMed 26908468
  • Goel R, Hong JS, Findling RL, Ji NY. An update on pharmacotherapy of autism spectrum disorder in children and adolescents. Int Rev Psychiatry. 2018 Feb;30(1):78-95. doi: 10.1080/09540261.2018.1458706. Epub 2018 Apr 25.

    PubMed 29693461
  • Gross, J. J. (2015). Emotion regulation: Current status and future prospects. Psychological inquiry, 26(1), 1-26.

  • Hartmann K, Urbano MR, Raffaele CT, Kreiser NL, Williams TV, Qualls LR, Elkins DE. Outcomes of an emotion regulation intervention group in young adults with autism spectrum disorder. Bull Menninger Clin. 2019 Summer;83(3):259-277. doi: 10.1521/bumc.2019.83.3.259.

    PubMed 31502871
  • Ibrahim K, Kalvin C, Marsh CL, Anzano A, Gorynova L, Cimino K, Sukhodolsky DG. Anger Rumination is Associated with Restricted and Repetitive Behaviors in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord. 2019 Sep;49(9):3656-3668. doi: 10.1007/s10803-019-04085-y.

    PubMed 31144231
  • Kanne SM, Mazurek MO. Aggression in children and adolescents with ASD: prevalence and risk factors. J Autism Dev Disord. 2011 Jul;41(7):926-37. doi: 10.1007/s10803-010-1118-4.

    PubMed 20960041
  • Linehan, M. (2014). DBT? Skills training manual. Guilford Publications.

  • Luiselli, J. K. (Ed.). (2014). Children and youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD): recent advances and innovations in assessment, education, and intervention.

  • Mascha, K., & Boucher, J. (2006). Preliminary investigation of a qualitative method of examining siblings' experiences of living with a child with ASD. The British Journal of Development Disabilities, 52(102), 19-28.

  • McStay RL, Dissanayake C, Scheeren A, Koot HM, Begeer S. Parenting stress and autism: the role of age, autism severity, quality of life and problem behaviour of children and adolescents with autism. Autism. 2014 Jul;18(5):502-10. doi: 10.1177/1362361313485163. Epub 2013 Oct 8.

    PubMed 24104515
  • Mazurek, M. O., Kanne, S. M., & Wodka, E. L. (2013). Physical aggression in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 7(3), 455-465.

  • Patel S, Day TN, Jones N, Mazefsky CA. Association between anger rumination and autism symptom severity, depression symptoms, aggression, and general dysregulation in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. Autism. 2017 Feb;21(2):181-189. doi: 10.1177/1362361316633566. Epub 2016 Jul 9.

    PubMed 27095831
  • Hill AP, Zuckerman KE, Hagen AD, Kriz DJ, Duvall SW, van Santen J, Nigg J, Fair D, Fombonne E. Aggressive Behavior Problems in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Prevalence and Correlates in a Large Clinical Sample. Res Autism Spectr Disord. 2014 Sep 1;8(9):1121-1133. doi: 10.1016/j.rasd.2014.05.006.

    PubMed 25221619

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Anger can go! and Parent psycho-education in people with Autism Spectrum Disorder, run by VU University of Amsterdam at 2 sites in Netherlands.

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 3 inclusion and 1 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 3 Feb 2022. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 2 sites in Netherlands. 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?

Aggressive behavior problems: Arguing, Temper tantrums, Destroying things and Physical violence (time frame: At week 0, before the intervention group received treatment). The study lists 8 primary outcomes in all. 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 NCT05221515, which also lists 35 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 3 Feb 2022.

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