title: The Frankfurt early intervention program FFIP for preschool aged children with autism spectrum disorder: a pilot study.
abstract: Different early intervention programs, developed predominantly in the US, for preschool aged children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have been published. Several systematic review articles including a German Health Technology Assessment on behavioural and skill-based early interventions in children with ASD reported insufficient evidence and a substantial problem of generalisability to the German context. In Germany, approx. 2-5 h early intervention is supported by social services. Here, we report the results of a 1 year pre-post pilot study on a developmentally based social pragmatic approach, the Frankfurt Early Intervention program FFIP. In FFIP, individual 2:1, behaviourally and developmentally based therapy with the child is combined with parent training and training of kindergarten teachers. Treatment frequency is 2 h/week. Outcome measures were the Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scales II (VABS), mental age and the ADOS severity score. Improvements after 1 year were observed for the VABS socialisation scale and the mental age quotient/IQ (medium effect sizes). Results are comparable with several other studies with a similar or slightly higher therapeutic intensity implementing comparable or different early intervention methods or programs. Compared to most high-intensity programs (30-40 h/week), lower cognitive gains were observed. Results have to be replicated and assessed by a randomized-controlled study before any final conclusions can be drawn.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, JW Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, 60528 Frankfurt, Germany. C.Freitag@em.uni-frankfurt.de
authors.forename: Christine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Freitag
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Feineis-Matthews
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Valerian
authors.forename: Karoline
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Teufel
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wilker
mesh_terms: D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003142:Communication; D018479:Early Intervention, Educational / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012951:Socialization; D016896:Treatment Outcome