ERIC Number: EJ1474049
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Jul
Pages: 15
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0162-3257
EISSN: EISSN-1573-3432
Available Date: 2024-04-28
Randomized Feasibility Pilot of an Executive Functioning Intervention Adapted for Children's Mental Health Settings
Kelsey S. Dickson1,2; Megan Galligan1,2; Tana Holt1,2; Lauren Kenworthy3,4; Laura Anthony5,6; Scott Roesch1,2; Lauren Brookman-Frazee2,7,8
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, v55 n7 p2407-2421 2025
The critical role of executive functioning in autism as well as the co-occurring mental health challenges common among autistic youth support to the immense value of interventions targeting executive functioning for enhancing mental health services for autistic children. The goal of the present study was to conduct a randomized feasibility trial of "Unstuck and On Target," an executive functioning intervention, adapted for delivery in children's community mental health setting. Mental health therapists (n = 26) enrolled with participating autistic clients (n = 32) were randomized to receive training in and deliver the adapted "Unstuck" intervention or to deliver care as usual. We completed masked observational measures of "Unstuck" strategy use (fidelity) during recorded sessions of participating therapist-client dyads and collected measures of acceptability from participating clients and their caregivers. We also collected measures of pre-post changes in executive functioning and mental health symptoms. Therapists trained in "Unstuck" demonstrated significantly higher use of "Unstuck" strategies compared to usual care therapists. Caregivers and autistic clients perceive adapted "Unstuck" as highly acceptability and helpful. Autistic clients whose therapists were trained in adapted "Unstuck" demonstrated larger pre-post changes in executive functioning compared to usual care. Across all participating clients, changes in executive functioning were significantly related to changes in mental health symptoms. Finally, clients of therapists trained in adapted "Unstuck" demonstrated moderate improvements in overall mental health symptoms. The current study provides preliminary evidence of the feasibility and impact of "Unstuck and On Target" for children's community mental health settings.
Descriptors: Executive Function, Intervention, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Mental Health, Health Facilities, Program Effectiveness, Children, Allied Health Personnel
Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link.springer.com/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: K23MH115100
Author Affiliations: 1San Diego State University, San Diego, USA; 2Child and Adolescent Services Research Center, San Diego, USA; 3Center for Autism– Children’s National Hospital, Washington, USA; 4George Washington University Medical School, Washington, USA; 5University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, USA; 6Children’s Hospital of Colorado, Aurora, USA; 7University of California, San Diego, USA; 8Rady Children’s Hospital- San Diego, San Diego, USA