Social Cognitive Interventions for Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Systematic Review

Angela Tseng, Bruno Biagianti, Sunday M. Francis, Christine A. Conelea, Suma Jacob

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

Introduction:: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder, impacts social experience and functioning throughout the lifespan. Although the postnatal phase of neuroplasticity has been a focus for early interventions in ASD, a second critical period in adolescence has emerged as a promising target for experience-dependent remediation. Interventions addressing the multidimensional construct of social cognition have also shown potential as a therapeutic approach. Yet, to date, evidence-based social cognitive interventions (SCIs) designed for adolescents with ASD are still lacking. In this review, we aim to survey and synthesize the extant literature on SCIs for adolescents with ASD in order to inform next steps for treatment research. Methods:: Using the PRISMA guidelines, we limited our queries to peer-reviewed, English-language journal articles describing SCI trials for adolescents with ASD using a randomized controlled design. Results:: Eighteen articles in total met our inclusion/exclusion criteria. We present and discuss these trials using the non-exclusive categories of group-based social skills interventions, experiential-based interventions, and computer-assisted interventions. Limitations:: To ensure a focus on adolescence, we excluded trials with teen-age participants if mean subject age was not between 12-18 years. Also, given the variability across studies in outcome measures, study designs, samples, and effect sizes, findings were incommensurable. Conclusions:: Several reviewed SCIs reported post-treatment improvements in varied domains but findings were inconsistent. Further investigations of existing and novel interventions are warranted; attention to assessing and improving long-term skill transfer is essential. Technology-assisted augmentations may improve treatment efficacy and ecological validity of therapeutic gains.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)199-204
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Affective Disorders
Volume274
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1 2020

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This study was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health under Award Numbers R43 1 R43 MH121209-01 (BB, CC) and R01MH115046-02 (SJ). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the funding agencies.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Elsevier B.V.

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