Research summaries for autism therapy: pilot study

definition of pilot study: Type of scientific study designed to test the value and logistics of doing a larger study using the same design. Pilot studies usually test a smaller sample size. It is a way for scientists to work out the kinks before doing a larger-scale study. The results of a pilot study might not be conclusive because of the small sample size. The scientists would need to do a larger study in order to test whether the results are valid.
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Brief Report: Effects of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Parent-Reported Autism Symptoms in School-Age Children with High-Functioning Autism, Summarized Apr 15, 2010

Core autism symptoms such as social communication deficits may be improved by cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

Social communication problems have proven hard to change through social skills training. This pilot study was designed to see the effect of a CBT program on parent-reported core autism symptoms. The study had 19 children (7 to 11 years old) with high-functioning autism who received 16 sessions of CBT. The CBT program focused on children’s emotion regulation, on-site social coaching, parent training, and school support. The authors found that parent-reported autism symptoms were lower in the CBT group than in the waitlist control group.

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Effects of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Parent-Reported Autism Symptoms in School-Age Children with High-Functioning Autism, Summarized Jan 6, 2010

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) may be helpful for reducing autism symptoms, such as poor social responsiveness and low social motivation, in school-age children.

This pilot study asked whether cognitive behavioral therapy may be helpful for children with autism (ages 7-11 years old). Nine children received cognitive behavioral therapy for 3 months, and an additional10 children did not receive therapy until 3 months later (wait-listed controls). Parents were asked to score their autism symptoms before and after treatment. Children who received therapy improved as compared to children who did not receive therapy. The improvements lasted at least 3 months after the therapy was stopped.

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Open-Label Use of Placebos in the Treatment of ADHD: A Pilot Study, Summarized Sep 17, 2009

A placebo effect may allow doctors to lower the prescribed doses of drug therapy for behavioral disorders like ADHD and autism.

This pilot study looked at whether children who knowingly took placebo together with their regular drug therapy could lower their drug dose. In the study, there were 26 children (7-15 years old) with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The researchers wanted to find out if children could use lower drug therapy doses with this treatment.... Read more...

Cognitive-Behavioral Group Treatment for Anxiety Symptoms in Children with High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Pilot Study, Summarized Apr 16, 2009

Group cognitive-behavioral therapy may be helpful in reducing symptoms of anxiety in children with autism.

The purpose of this study was to assess whether group (parent and child) cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy could reduce anxiety symptoms in children with high-functioning autism. The study used two measures of anxiety: parent reports, and child reports. Parents noted a decrease in anxiety symptoms after the group therapy intervention. The study had only 33 children with an average age of 12. The authors also note that the study did not have a control group. Read more...

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