title: The effect of a psycho-educational program on CARS scores and short sensory profile in autistic children.
abstract: There is great demand for effective management of children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD). This study aimed to investigate the effect of an individually tailored psycho-educational program for autistic children on the scores of the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) and the Short Sensory Profile (SSP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty children (36 males) were enrolled into an intervention program which consisted of occupational therapy including sensory integration techniques, speech therapy, social skills therapy and parent-directed approaches. Autism severity was assessed using CARS; sensory response capability with the SSP pre- and post-treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight children were intellectually normal; 12 borderline and 20 of low intelligence. Pre-treatment CARS showed that 8 were mildly autistic, 32 moderately-severely autistic. Post-treatment, 24 children changed category; 11 were no longer autistic. The percentage of children performing in the definitive difference region, according to total SSP score, changed slightly (45% vs 32.5%). Comparison of the pre- and post-treatment values revealed that CARS decreased significantly (p < 0.001), whereas total SSP did not (p = 0.294). Tactile sensitivity and low energy/weakness sections, though, were significantly different pre- and post-treatment. Longitudinal analysis, taking into account other confounding factors besides time, further revealed a significant decrement for CARS score with time but not for SSP score (p < 0.001 and p = 0.288, respectively). Similarly, intelligence levels affected CARS but not SSP values (p < 0.001 and p = 0.813, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Individually tailored psycho-educational therapy had a significant effect on autism severity according to CARS. Changes in the SSP scores were not significant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Pendeli Children's Hospital, 8 Mandelara Street, Nea Erythraia, 14671 Athens, Greece. theon@otenet.gr
authors.forename: Antigone S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Papavasiliou
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nikaina
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rizou
authors.forename: Stratos
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alexandrou
mesh_terms: D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018479:Early Intervention, Educational / Q000379:methods*; D004519:Education, Special / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D013070:Speech Therapy / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology