title: A randomised group comparison controlled trial of 'preschoolers with autism': a parent education and skills training intervention for young children with autistic disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of parent education on adaptive behaviour, autism symptoms and cognitive/language skills of young children with autistic disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomised group comparison design involving a parent education and counselling intervention and a parent education and behaviour management intervention to control for parent skills training and a control sample. Two rural and two metropolitan regions were randomly allocated to intervention groups (n = 70) or control (n = 35). Parents from autism assessment services in the intervention regions were randomly allocated to parent education and behaviour management (n = 35) or parent education and counselling (n = 35).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Parent education and behaviour management resulted in significant improvement in adaptive behaviour and autism symptoms at 6 months follow-up for children with greater delays in adaptive behaviour. Parent education and behaviour management was superior to parent education and counselling. We conclude that a 20-week parent education programme including skills training for parents of young children with autistic disorder provides significant improvements in child adaptive behaviour and symptoms of autism for low-functioning children.
authors.affiliation: 1Monash University, Australia.
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tonge
authors.forename: Avril
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brereton
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kiomall
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mackinnon
authors.forename: Nicole J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Rinehart
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods; D002652:Child Behavior; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003071:Cognition; D004505:Education, Nonprofessional / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D016487:Parenting; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education*; D016896:Treatment Outcome