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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2016 Feb;46(2):658-72.
doi: 10.1007/s10803-015-2600-9.

Improvement in Social Competence Using a Randomized Trial of a Theatre Intervention for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Blythe A Corbett  1   2   3 , Alexandra P Key  4   5 , Lydia Qualls  6 , Stephanie Fecteau  6   7 , Cassandra Newsom  6   4   8 , Catherine Coke  9 , Paul Yoder  4   10
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Improvement in Social Competence Using a Randomized Trial of a Theatre Intervention for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Blythe A Corbett et al. J Autism Dev Disord. 2016 Feb.

Abstract

The efficacy of a peer-mediated, theatre-based intervention on social competence in participants with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) was tested. Thirty 8-to-14 year-olds with ASD were randomly assigned to the treatment (n = 17) or a wait-list control (n = 13) group. Immediately after treatment, group effects were seen on social ability, (d = .77), communication symptoms (d = -.86), group play with toys in the company of peers (d = .77), immediate memory of faces as measured by neuropsychological (d = .75) and ERP methods (d = .93), delayed memory for faces (d = .98), and theory of mind (d = .99). At the 2 month follow-up period, group effects were detected on communication symptoms (d = .82). The results of this pilot clinical trial provide initial support for the efficacy of the theatre-based intervention.

Keywords: Autism; Cognition; ERP; Faces; Social competence; Theatre.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: Blythe Corbett is the founder of SENSE Theatre 501©(3) but does not receive any financial compensation from the organization. The other authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
CONSORT Flow Diagram
Figure 2
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 3
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