title: Social skills development in children with autism spectrum disorders: a review of the intervention research.
abstract: Social reciprocity deficits are a core feature of the autism spectrum disorders (ASD). This review summarizes the state of research in group-based social skills training programs for school-age children and adolescents with ASD. All published studies of group social skills interventions between 1985 and 2006 were reviewed, as well as dissertations examining group-based social skills intervention programs. To assess the state of the science, a template developed by an NIMH work group was applied to 14 identified studies. Based on this review, the empirical support for this approach is incomplete, but promising intervention strategies were identified. Recommendations for the design of future treatment trials to guide clinical practice are offered.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Virginia Treatment Center for Children, Virginia Commonwealth University, 515 North 10th Street, Richmond, VA 23298, USA. swilliams25@vcu.edu
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Williams White
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Keonig
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Scahill
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D020817:Asperger Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010552:Personality Assessment; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012106:Research; D012919:Social Behavior; D012951:Socialization