NCT04302818

SKOLKONTAKT - Social Skills Training in a School Setting

SKOLKONTAKT - Social Skills Training in a School Setting, a Randomized Controlled Pilot

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 33 (actual)
• Sponsor: Karolinska Institutet · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 15 Years – 20 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The study investigates the behavioral effects of an adapted manual-based social skills training program (SKOLKONTAKT) for the mainstream education plan delivered by school personnel, with pupils (15-20 years) with social-communication needs; either formally diagnosed (i.e. autism spectrum disorders or ADHD) or teacher-reported subclinical difficulties. N=40 are recruited from a community school in the Stockholm area (Sweden).

Detailed description

So far, research has failed to consider the effectiveness of social skills training in school settings, and has instead focused on clinical or laboratory settings. This approach presents an interesting paradox given that the primary goal of social skills training is to affect change in the child's behavior in everyday life including school. Research undertaken in authentic everyday environments is not only more likely to result in real world outcomes for children and adolescents with ASD and ADHD, but greater utility in guiding models of service delivery. The objective of the current line of research is to adapt and evaluate methods originally designed to support children and adolescents with ASD and ADHD in clinical settings ("KONTAKT"), to be feasible and effective in school settings, that can be conducted by school personnel, and are are applicable to children with autistic and inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive disorders, as well as other less defined special social needs ("SKOLKONTAKT").

Conditions

• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
• Anxiety
• Depression

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	SKOLKONTAKT	N=21 participants are offered manualized and structured group training SKOLKONTAKT. The intervention includes 12 weeks, 3 sessions (50 minutes) per week.
BEHAVIORAL	Social activity group	N=21 participants. The active comparison group includes 12 weeks, 3 sessions (50 minutes) per week. Sessions will include socially oriented activities such as board games, sports or baking as well as a recommended, general agenda.

Timeline

• Start date: 2019-09-02
• Primary completion: 2021-03-31
• Completion: 2021-03-31
• First posted: 2020-03-10
• Last updated: 2022-03-29

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Sweden