title: Randomized controlled trial of the focus parent training for toddlers with autism: 1-year outcome.
abstract: This randomized controlled trial compared results obtained after 12 months of nonintensive parent training plus care-as-usual and care-as-usual alone. The training focused on stimulating joint attention and language skills and was based on the intervention described by Drew et al. (Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatr 11:266-272, 2002). Seventy-five toddlers with autism spectrum disorder (65 autism, 10 PDD-NOS, mean age = 34.4 months, SD = 6.2) were enrolled. Analyses were conducted on a final sample of 67 children (lost to follow-up = 8). No significant intervention effects were found for any of the primary (language), secondary (global clinical improvement), or mediating (child engagement, early precursors of social communication, or parental skills) outcome variables, suggesting that the 'Focus parent training' was not of additional value to the more general care-as-usual.
authors.affiliation: Karakter Child and Adolescent Psychiatry University Centre, Reinier Postlaan 12, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. i.oosterling@karakter.com
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Oosterling
authors.forename: Janne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Visser
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Swinkels
authors.forename: Nanda
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rommelse
authors.forename: Rogier
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Donders
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Woudenberg
authors.forename: Sascha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roos
authors.forename: Rutger Jan
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: van der Gaag
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Buitelaar
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018479:Early Intervention, Educational / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D059012:Lost to Follow-Up; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education*; D016896:Treatment Outcome