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Intervention for Infants at Risk of Developing Autism: A Case Series

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Abstract

Theory and evidence suggest the potential value of prodromal intervention for infants at risk of developing autism. We report an initial case series (n = 8) of a parent-mediated, video-aided and interaction-focused intervention with infant siblings of autistic probands, beginning at 8–10 months of age. We outline the theory and evidence base behind this model and present data on feasibility, acceptability and measures ranging from parent-infant social interaction, to infant atypical behaviors, attention and cognition. The intervention proves to be both feasible and acceptable to families. Measurement across domains was successful and on larger samples promise to be an effective test of whether such an intervention in infancy will modify emergent atypical developmental trajectories in infants at risk for autism.

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Acknowledgments

We acknowledge with thanks the generous collaboration from the originators of the original VIPP intervention (Femmie Juffer, Marian Bakermans Kranenberg, Marinus van IJzendoorn) that forms the basis of our intervention model. We are grateful for the enormous contributions BASIS families have made towards this study. The research was supported by awards from Autistica, Waterloo Foundation and Central Manchester Foundation NHS Trust to Jonathan Green; from the UK Economic and Social Research Council to Ming Wai Wan and Jonathan Green; Walport Academic Clinical Fellowship to Samina Holsgrove; and from the UK Medical Research Council (G0701484) and the BASIS funding consortium led by Autistica (www.basisnetwork.org) to M.H. Johnson.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Brain, Behaviour and Mental Health, University of Manchester, Room 4.308, Jean McFarlane Building, Oxford Rd, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK

    Jonathan Green

  2. Institute of Brain, Behaviour and Mental Health, University of Manchester, Jean McFarlane Building, Oxford Rd, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK

    Ming Wai Wan, Samina Holsgrove & Janet McNally

  3. Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Department of Psychological Science, Birkbeck, University of London, The Henry Wellcome Building, London, WC1E 7HX, UK

    Jeanne Guiraud, Mayada Elsabbagh & Mark Johnson

  4. Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, Box PO77, Henry Wellcome Building, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 8AF, UK

    Tony Charman

  5. Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust/King’s College London, Great Maze Pond, London, SE1 9RT, UK

    Vicky Slonims

  6. Department of Biostatistics, Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, London, SE5 8AF, UK

    Andrew Pickles

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  1. Jonathan Green
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  2. Ming Wai Wan
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  5. Janet McNally
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  6. Vicky Slonims
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  7. Mayada Elsabbagh
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  8. Tony Charman
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  9. Andrew Pickles
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  10. Mark Johnson
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The BASIS Team

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Correspondence to Jonathan Green.

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The BASIS team members are as follows: Simon Baron-Cohen, Patrick Bolton, Kim Davies, Janice Fernandes, Helena Ribeiro, and Leslie Tucker.

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Green, J., Wan, M.W., Guiraud, J. et al. Intervention for Infants at Risk of Developing Autism: A Case Series. J Autism Dev Disord 43, 2502–2514 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-013-1797-8

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