PRE – SCHOOL AUTISM COMMUNICATION TRIAL (PACT study)

Chief investigator: Dr Jonathan Green (Manchester)

Principal Investigators at Newcastle Site:

Professor Helen McConachie, Professor Ann Le Couteur 

Research Associate: Kathryn Temple

Collaborators: National Autistic Society.

Research staff located at Manchester and London sites: – Dr Catherine Aldred, Dr Vicky Slonims, Dr Sarah Byford, Professor Patricia Howlin, Dr Tony Charman, Dr Wendy MacDonald, Professor Andrew Pickles.

Funding: Medical Research Council

Start and end dates: Start 01/02/2006   End 30/09/2009

Currently Recruiting

Abstract:

This study will compare outcomes after 12 months for a group of young children with autism who receive either community treatment as usual or treatment as usual with the addition of a speech and language therapy treatment that aims to enhance parent-child communication and the social and language development of the child. Families randomly allocated to the additional treatment group attend sessions with a therapist every two weeks for 6 months to learn new ways of understanding and communicating with their child, with monthly booster sessions for a further 6 months.  Similar treatment models have been applied in previous studies on smaller numbers of children with autism, with good results. Children will take part in research assessments at baseline, and at 6 and 12 months. The study will involve 144 children in three sites across the UK (Greater Manchester, North East England and Southwark/Lewisham in London. The costs of the treatment and of  treatment as usual will also be studied.  The study will inform the evidence base for Autism service planning in the UK and internationally.

Please forward an email to our study coordinator Sue Leach if you would like to know more about this study.