The AMOR Method: Resilience Training for Parents of Children With Autism

Stanford University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Autism Spectrum Disorder

Treatments: Behavioral: The AMOR Method

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03513419

45774

Details and patient eligibility

About

We will evaluate whether a resilience training program which includes group and individual parent training will be effective in improving optimism and resiliency in parents of young children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). By observing the level of parent optimism and resiliency before and after intervention, we will be able to determine whether the intervention is effective in improving parent resilience.

Enrollment: 36 patients

Sex: All

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Parents eligible to participate include parents: a) English-speaking, b) of a child aged 4:0 to 10:11 years, c) with a previous diagnosis of ASD and evidence of current social impairment (SRS-2) and repetitive behaviors (RBS-R), and d) who are able to consistently participate in sessions. Given budgetary constraints, direct diagnostic testing will not be feasible. Instead, child diagnostic status will be confirmed through review of the child's medical record for evidence that the child previously met ADOS criteria for ASD and shows clinically significant social impairment at baseline (SRS-2 T>65).

Parents who are not eligible to participate include parents: a) with severe psychiatric, genetic, or medical disorder among parents and/or children, b) taking psychiatric medication, and c) with elevated resilience scores at baseline (Total Score >80 on CD-RISC). The DSM-5 CCSM will be administered to parents to screen for parent mental illness. Any identified issues on the DSM-5 CCSM will be investigated further by the PI to rule out severe psychiatric disorders.

Exclusion criteria

a) Severe psychiatric, genetic, or medical disorder among parents and/or children, b) parents taking psychiatric medication, and c) parents with elevated resilience scores at baseline (Total Score>80 on CD-RISC). The DSM-5 Cross Cutting Symptom Measure (DSM-5 CCSM) will be administered to parents to screen for parent mental illness. Any identified issues on the DSM-5 CCSM will be investigated further by the PI to rule out severe psychiatric disorders. These families will be referred for behavioral consultation (available in our clinic) and then be reconsidered for group participation.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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36 participants in 2 patient groups

AMOR Method

Experimental group

Description:

The AMOR Method: The parent resilience training involves a series of eight weekly 90-minute group sessions, as well as three individual sessions. Group session content includes training in mindfulness, grief and loss processing, acceptance and committed actions, optimistic thinking, and resilience through the use of didactic training, group discussions, and homework assignments. Individual session content will center on additional and individualized training in grief and loss processing, optimistic thinking, and maintaining resilience over time.

Treatment:

Behavioral: The AMOR Method

Wait List

No Intervention group

Description:

Participants assigned to the waitlist will continue stable treatments and will be offered the opportunity to participate in the treatment after completion of the 8-week trial.