title: Promoting social skill development in children with pervasive developmental disorders: a feasibility and efficacy study.
abstract: A randomized controlled design was employed to evaluate a social skills intervention for children with pervasive developmental disorders. Aims included evaluating the acceptability of the program and gathering preliminary evidence on efficacy. Forty-four children, ages 8-11 years, were randomly assigned to treatment or wait list. Treatment consisted of a 16-week group intervention designed to teach appropriate social behavior. Between group comparisons showed that children in treatment were rated as improved on the primary outcome measure, (unblinded parent report), but not on the secondary outcome measure, a parent questionnaire. Parents reported a high level of satisfaction with the intervention. The study supports the feasibility of this intervention to families and highlights challenges for future research in social skills intervention.
authors.affiliation: Yale Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, PO Box 207900, New Haven, CT 06520-7900, USA. kathy.koenig@yale.edu
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koenig
authors.forename: Susan Williams
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Maryellen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pachler
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: Moira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Ami
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Klin
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Scahill
mesh_terms: D001521:Behavior Therapy; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D010379:Peer Group; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D012919:Social Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome