Education and Training
Neuroimaging Predictors of Improvement to Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT) in Young Children With Autism
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a very heterogeneous disorder with limited empirically validated behavioral and biological interventions. The goal of this pilot investigation is to apply a biologically-based approach to identify predictors of treatment response in children with ASD who are receiving Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT), an evidence-based behavioral intervention. Specifically, the investigators propose to identify neuroimaging biomarkers of treatment response to a PRT program (PRT-P) targeting language deficits in young children with ASD who will be randomized to either PRT-P or to a delayed treatment group (DTG).
Stanford is currently accepting patients for this trial.
Stanford Investigator(s):
Intervention(s):
- behavioral: Pivotal Response Treatment Program (PRT-P)
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Spectrum Disorder (ASD) based on clinical interview and
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 5th edition (DSM-5) and confirmed using the Autism
Diagnostic Interview Revised (ADI-R) and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule
(ADOS) and/or Brief Observation of Symptoms of Autism (BOSA) and/or Childhood Autism
Rating Scale- Second Edition (CARS-2).
- Outpatients between 2.0 and 4.11 years of age of either gender,
- Children of all cognitive levels will be included as long as they are able to
participate in the testing procedures to the extent that valid standard scores can be
obtained
- Language delay as measured by the Preschool Language Scale, 5th Edition (PLS-5) [at
least 1 standard deviation behind for children age 2 and 3 years; and 2 standard
deviations behind for children age 4],
- Stable psychotropic medication(s) or biomedical intervention(s) for at least 1 month
prior to baseline measurements with no anticipated changes during study participation,
- Stable treatment [Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Floortime, or other interventions],
speech therapy, and school placement for at least 1 month prior to baseline
measurements with no expected changes during study participation,
- No more than 60 minutes of 1:1 speech therapy per week,
- The child's exposure to the English language must be sufficient that administration of
standardized tests in English is appropriate for measuring progress,
- The availability of at least one parent who can consistently participate in the
training sessions and related activities, and
- Successful completion of baseline brain scan.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Current or life-time diagnosis of severe psychiatric disorder (e.g., bipolar
disorder),
- Genetic abnormality (e.g., Fragile X)
- Presence of active medical problem (e.g., unstable seizure disorder),
- Receiving more than 15 hours of in home 1:1 Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) per week
- Magnetic Resonance (MR) contraindication (e.g., the presence of ferrous metal), or
- Previous adequate Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT) trial.
Ages Eligible for Study
2 Years - 4 Years
Genders Eligible for Study
All
Now accepting new patients
Contact Information
Stanford University
School of Medicine
300 Pasteur Drive
Stanford,
CA
94305
Estefania Millan, MA
650-736-1235
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