A multi-component social skills intervention for children with Asperger syndrome: the Junior Detective Training Program.
BACKGROUND
The study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a new multi-component social skills intervention for children with Asperger syndrome (AS): The Junior Detective Training Program. This 7-week program included a computer game, small group sessions, parent training sessions and teacher handouts.


METHODS
Forty-nine children with AS were recruited to participate and randomly assigned to intervention (n = 26) or wait-list control (n = 23) conditions.


RESULTS
Relative to children in the wait-list group, program participants showed greater improvements in social skills over the course of the intervention, as indicated by parent-report measures. Teacher-report data also confirmed that children receiving the intervention made significant improvements in social functioning from pre- to post-treatment. Treatment group participants were better able to suggest appropriate emotion-management strategies for story characters at post-intervention than at pre-intervention, whereas control participants were not. However, there was no difference in the improvements made by children in the intervention and control conditions on facial expression and body-posture recognition measures. Follow-up data suggested that treatment gains were maintained by children at 5-months post-intervention.


CONCLUSIONS
The Junior Detective Training Program appeared to be effective in enhancing the social skills and emotional understanding of children with AS. Limitations and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Beaumont
Renae
R
The University of Queensland, Australia.
Sofronoff
Kate
K
D020817:Asperger Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004493:Education; D004644:Emotions; D005149:Facial Expression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005793:Generalization, Psychological; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009633:Nonverbal Communication; D018187:Personal Construct Theory; D010552:Personality Assessment; D010988:Play and Playthings; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods; D012919:Social Behavior; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D014040:Token Economy