title: Brief Report: Reduced Restricted and Repetitive Behaviors after Pivotal Response Treatment.
abstract: Children with ASD show high frequency of restricted and repetitive behaviors (RRBs); however, higher-order RRBs, such as restricted interests, have remained largely resistant to treatment. This study evaluated change in severity of RRBs following a 16-weeks open trial of Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT). Participants included 15 children with ASD ages 4-7 years. RRBs, as measured by the repetitive behavioral scales-revised (RBS-R) and aberrant behaviors checklist, decreased significantly after treatment. These reductions remained significant after controlling for change in social communication skills. PRT shows promise in reducing RRBs; although PRT explicitly addresses pivotal social communication skills, there is a secondary and less direct effect on RRBs.
authors.affiliation: Yale Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, 230 South Frontage Road, PO Box 207900, New Haven, CT, 06520-7900, USA. pamela.ventola@yale.edu.
authors.forename: Pamela E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Ventola
authors.affiliation: Yale Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, 230 South Frontage Road, PO Box 207900, New Haven, CT, 06520-7900, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Yale Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, 230 South Frontage Road, PO Box 207900, New Haven, CT, 06520-7900, USA.
authors.forename: Sebiha M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Abdullahi
authors.affiliation: Yale Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, 230 South Frontage Road, PO Box 207900, New Haven, CT, 06520-7900, USA.
authors.forename: Courtney A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Paisley
authors.affiliation: Yale Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, 230 South Frontage Road, PO Box 207900, New Haven, CT, 06520-7900, USA.
authors.forename: Megan L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Braconnier
authors.affiliation: Yale Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, 230 South Frontage Road, PO Box 207900, New Haven, CT, 06520-7900, USA.
authors.forename: Denis G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Sukhodolsky
mesh_terms: D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D066107:Social Skills; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Behavior therapy; Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT); Repetitive Behavior Scale-Revised (RBS-R); Restricted and repetitive behaviors