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Brief Report: Feasibility of Social Cognition and Interaction Training for Adults with High Functioning Autism

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Abstract

The goal of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and utility of a group-based cognitive behavioral intervention to improve social-cognitive functioning in adults with high-functioning autism (HFA). We modified the treatment manual of a previously validated intervention, Social Cognition and Interaction Training (SCIT), for optimal use with HFA adults (SCIT-A). We then conducted a pilot study to compare SCIT-A (n = 6) to treatment as usual (TAU) (n = 5) for adults with HFA. Feasibility was supported; attendance was high (92%) and satisfaction reports were primarily positive. Participants in SCIT-A showed significant improvement in theory-of-mind skills and trend level improvements in social communication skills; TAU participants did not show these improvements. Findings indicate SCIT-A shows promise as an intervention for adults with HFA.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the adults who generously participated in this study and would like to acknowledge the valuable contribution of Tia Holtzclaw to the project. This research was supported in part by grants from the National Institute of Mental Health (T32-HD40127and R01MH-73402), the Foundation of Hope (NC), and by North Carolina Division TEACCH. G. Dichter was supported by a career development award from UNC-Chapel Hill, NIH/NCRR K12 RR023248 (Orringer).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neurodevelopmental Disorders Research Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, CB #3367, UNC-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-3367, USA

    Lauren M. Turner-Brown

  2. Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    Timothy D. Perry & David L. Penn

  3. Department of Psychiatry and Neurodevelopmental Disorders Research Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    Gabriel S. Dichter & James W. Bodfish

  4. Duke-UNC Brain Imaging and Analysis Center, Durham, NC, USA

    Gabriel S. Dichter

Authors
  1. Lauren M. Turner-Brown
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  2. Timothy D. Perry
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  3. Gabriel S. Dichter
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  4. James W. Bodfish
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  5. David L. Penn
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Correspondence to Lauren M. Turner-Brown.

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Turner-Brown, L.M., Perry, T.D., Dichter, G.S. et al. Brief Report: Feasibility of Social Cognition and Interaction Training for Adults with High Functioning Autism. J Autism Dev Disord 38, 1777–1784 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-008-0545-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-008-0545-y

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