title: Long-term outcome of social skills intervention based on interactive LEGO play.
abstract: LEGO building materials have been adapted as a therapeutic modality for increasing motivation to participate in social skills intervention, and providing a medium through which children with social and communication handicaps can effectively interact. A 3 year retrospective study of long-term outcome for autistic spectrum children participating in LEGO therapy (N = 60) compared Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale socialization domain (VABS-SD) and Gilliam Autism Rating Scale social interaction subscale (GARS-SI) scores preand post-treatment with a matched comparison sample (N = 57) who received comparable non-LEGO therapy. Although both groups made significant gains on the two outcome measures, LEGO participants improved significantly more than the comparison subjects. Diagnosis and pre-treatment full-scale IQ scores did not predict outcome scores; however, Vineland adaptive behavior composite, Vineland communication domain, and verbal IQ all predicted outcome on the VABS-SD, especially for the LEGO therapy group. Results are discussed in terms of implications for methods of social skills intervention for autistic spectrum disorders.
authors.affiliation: Bancroft NeuroHealth, Haddonfield, NJ 08033, USA. dlegoff@aol.com
authors.forename: Daniel B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Legoff
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sherman
mesh_terms: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D010989:Play Therapy; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012919:Social Behavior; D012951:Socialization; D013070:Speech Therapy; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors