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Brief Report: Relationship Between Self-Awareness of Real-World Behavior and Treatment Outcome in Autism Spectrum Disorders

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Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of self-awareness of real-world behavior on treatment outcome in adolescents with ASD. For this purpose we followed 28 adolescents with ASD during their first year of specialized treatment. Results showed that better self-awareness at start of treatment was related with an increase in clinician-reported social functioning after 1 year of treatment. Additionally, an increase in self-awareness during treatment was related with a decrease of parent-reported problems in daily functioning. However, an increase in self-awareness was also related to an increase of self-reported daily and psychological problems. It is discussed that lowered self-awareness may result in an overestimation of personal real-world functioning and consequently may influence treatment course.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Psychology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    E. W. M. Verhoeven, N. Marijnissen, H. J. C. Berger, J. Oudshoorn & J. P. Teunisse

  2. Department of Research and Development, Dr. Leo Kannerhuis: Centre for Autism, P.O. Box 62, Houtsniplaan 1a, 6865 XZ, Doorwerth, The Netherlands

    E. W. M. Verhoeven & J. P. Teunisse

  3. De Steiger (Yulius): Treatment Centre for Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Amazone 7, 3315 WG, Dordrecht, The Netherlands

    A. van der Sijde

  4. Faculty of Health and Social Studies, HAN University of Applied Sciences, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    J. P. Teunisse

Authors
  1. E. W. M. Verhoeven
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  2. N. Marijnissen
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  3. H. J. C. Berger
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  4. J. Oudshoorn
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  5. A. van der Sijde
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  6. J. P. Teunisse
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to E. W. M. Verhoeven.

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Verhoeven, E.W.M., Marijnissen, N., Berger, H.J.C. et al. Brief Report: Relationship Between Self-Awareness of Real-World Behavior and Treatment Outcome in Autism Spectrum Disorders. J Autism Dev Disord 42, 889–894 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-011-1311-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-011-1311-0

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