NCT05017779

A Hybrid Effectiveness-implementation Trial of a High School-based Executive Function Treatment for Autistic Youth

A Hybrid Effectiveness-implementation Trial of a School Based Executive Function Treatment for Transition Age Autistic Youth

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 178 (actual)
• Sponsor: Children's National Research Institute · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 14 Years – 22 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This study will test the effectiveness of a school-based cognitive behavioral executive function (EF) intervention, Unstuck \& On Target High School (UOT:HS), for transition-age youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). UOT:HS was designed to be embedded in high schools and delivered by school staff to improve generalization of skills, increase access to mental health care, and fill a gap in evidence-based approaches to support postsecondary transition. UOT:HS targets flexibility and planning skills and focuses on key functions needed for adult success across 25, 1-hour lessons. School staff will be trained to deliver UOT:HS, study staff will provide ongoing check-ins, and parents will be offered home extensions for each lesson and two trainings to generalize skills to the home environment. Behavioral and parent-report data will be collected prior to intervention, post-intervention, and at 4-to-6-month follow-up.

Conditions

• Executive Dysfunction
• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Adolescent Behavior

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Unstuck & On Target: High School	Unstuck \& On Target: High School (UOT:HS) is a group-based curriculum for high school students that targets executive function skills using Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) techniques. UOT:HS focuses on key functions needed for adult success, such as: self-advocacy, flexibility, time management, motivation, goal setting, developing plans, monitoring progress. Guided practice begins with concrete interventionist support and moves to interventionist cueing, self-cueing, and finally automatic use of the skills without support. Lessons are delivered by school personnel within the school setting. Home extension activities are provided to parents.
OTHER	Treatment as Usual	Participants in schools assigned to the Treatment as Usual (TAU) condition will continue to receive the standard school-based IEP accommodations and school supports that would typically be provided. Data will be collected on the types of supports TAU schools offer, and what supports TAU students receive.

Timeline

• Start date: 2021-09-07
• Primary completion: 2025-12-15
• Completion: 2025-12-15
• First posted: 2021-08-24
• Last updated: 2026-02-10

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States