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Cognitive Enhancement Therapy for Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Results of an 18-month Feasibility Study

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Abstract

Adults with autism experience significant impairments in social and non-social information processing for which few treatments have been developed. This study conducted an 18-month uncontrolled trial of Cognitive Enhancement Therapy (CET), a comprehensive cognitive rehabilitation intervention, in 14 verbal adults with autism spectrum disorder to investigate its feasibility, acceptability, and initial efficacy in treating these impairments. Results indicated that CET was satisfying to participants, with high treatment attendance and retention. Effects on cognitive deficits and social behavior were also large (d = 1.40–2.29) and statistically significant (all p < .001). These findings suggest that CET is a feasible, acceptable, and potentially effective intervention for remediating the social and non-social cognitive impairments in verbal adults with autism.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by NIH grants MH-85851 (NJM and SME), RR-24154 (SME), MH-95783 (SME) and HD-55748 (NJM), as well as grants from Autism Speaks (NJM and SME), the Department of Defense (NJM and SME), and the Pennsylvania Department of Health (NJM).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Social Work, University of Pittsburgh, 2117 Cathedral of Learning, Pittsburgh, PA, 15260, USA

    Shaun M. Eack & Amber L. Bahorik

  2. Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Shaun M. Eack, Deborah P. Greenwald, Susan S. Hogarty, Maralee Y. Litschge & Carla A. Mazefsky

  3. Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Deborah P. Greenwald, Susan S. Hogarty, Amber L. Bahorik, Maralee Y. Litschge & Carla A. Mazefsky

  4. Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Nancy J. Minshew

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  1. Shaun M. Eack
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Correspondence to Shaun M. Eack.

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Eack, S.M., Greenwald, D.P., Hogarty, S.S. et al. Cognitive Enhancement Therapy for Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Results of an 18-month Feasibility Study. J Autism Dev Disord 43, 2866–2877 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-013-1834-7

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