A Center Based Study of Pivotal Response Treatment for Preschoolers With Autism

The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of pivotal response training (PRT) in an intensive center-based environment to treat social communication deficits in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Stanford is currently accepting patients for this trial.

Stanford Investigator(s):

Intervention(s):

  • behavioral: Intensive Center-Based Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT-C)

Eligibility


Inclusion Criteria:

   - Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) based on clinical interview and Diagnostic
   and Statistical Manual, 5th edition (DSM-5) and confirmed using the Autism Diagnostic
   Interview Revised (ADI-R) and Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, 2nd edition
   (ADOS-2) or Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS-2); Diagnostic and Statistical Manual,
   5th edition (DSM-5), and expert clinical opinion

   - Boys and girls between 2 years and 3 years and 11 months

   - Ability to participate in the testing procedures to the extent that valid standard
   scores can be obtained

   - Stable treatment (e.g., applied behavior analysis (ABA), speech therapy, psychotropic
   medication(s) or biomedical intervention(s) for at least 1 month prior to baseline
   measurements with no anticipated changes during study participation

   - Developmentally delayed with Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL) or Developmental
   Profile (DP-4) composite score below 85 (1 Standard Deviation below the mean)

   - Availability of at least one English-speaking parent who can consistently participate
   in parent training and research measures.

Exclusion Criteria:

   - Current or lifetime diagnosis of severe psychiatric disorder (e.g., bipolar disorder,
   etc.)

   - Presence of active medical problem (e.g., unstable seizure disorder or heart disease)

   - Child primary language other than English

   - Previous adequate trial of Pivotal Response Treatment

   - More than 15 hours per week of in-home applied behavior analysis (ABA).

Ages Eligible for Study

2 Years - 3 Years

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Now accepting new patients

Contact Information

Stanford University
School of Medicine
300 Pasteur Drive
Stanford, CA 94305
Madeleine Clark, BS
650-736-1235
I'm interested

Our research team includes physicians, residents, medical students, research assistants, and volunteers. Our research topics include medical imaging, device validation,  mobile application development, and pharmaceutical trials.  

Some of the Neuro-Opthalmic concerns we investigate include Multiple Sclerosis, Optic Neuritis, IIH, and ICP.