Feasibility Controlled Trial of an 8-session Group Intervention for Siblings of Children Who Have ASD

University of Surrey

Status: Completed

Conditions: Autism Spectrum Disorder

Treatments: Other: None - control condition; Other: Sibling support group

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04714606

260159

Details and patient eligibility

About

A feasibility controlled trial of an eight-session group intervention for siblings of children who have an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Children will be recruited from a multi-academy trust of nine schools. Due to the on-going impact of COVID-19 restrictions, children will be allocated to the intervention condition (eight session support group) if they are physically attending school and to the control condition (receipt of a booklet) if they remain at home. Pre and post outcome measures will be completed by children and their parents in both research arms.

Enrollment: 12 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 7 to 11 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. 7-11 years old.
2. Must have a sibling who has a formal diagnosis of ASD.
3. Must be competent in the English language.
4. Must be in mainstream education.
5. Must be willing and able to engage in an eight-session group intervention (including being accompanied to and from the group by their parents/carers).
6. Must be registered with a GP and parental consent gained to inform the GP that the sibling is attending the group.

Exclusion criteria

1. If the sibling has a diagnosis of ASD themselves.
2. If there are any clear risk concerns (e.g. any thought or intent to harm self or others, involvement in court proceedings or with the criminal justice system).
3. If the sibling is currently receiving any other psychological treatment.
4. If the sibling has a learning disability or difficulty that will make it hard to access the group content and/or capacity to provide informed consent.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Non-Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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12 participants in 2 patient groups

Sibling support group

Experimental group

Description:

8 session, tailored support group for siblings of children who have an ASD

Treatment:

Other: Sibling support group

Booklet

Active Comparator group

Description:

Control condition in which siblings of children who have an ASD will receive a tailored booklet to complete at home

Treatment:

Other: None - control condition