A Center Based Study of Pivotal Response Treatment for Preschoolers With Autism

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Autism Spectrum Disorder, Autism

In brief

The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of pivotal response training (PRT) in an intensive center-based environment to treat social communication deficits in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Key facts

Study ID

NCT03778827

Run by

Stanford University

People needed

75

Starts

2019-05-13

Expected to finish

2026-03-28

Last updated by the study team

2026-06-25

Who can join

Age: 2 and older, up to 3. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) based on clinical interview and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 5th edition (DSM-5) and confirmed using the Autism Diagnostic Interview Revised (ADI-R) and Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, 2nd edition (ADOS-2) or Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS-2); Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 5th edition (DSM-5), and expert clinical opinion
• Boys and girls between 2 years and 3 years and 11 months
• Ability to participate in the testing procedures to the extent that valid standard scores can be obtained
• Stable treatment (e.g., applied behavior analysis (ABA), speech therapy, psychotropic medication(s) or biomedical intervention(s) for at least 1 month prior to baseline measurements with no anticipated changes during study participation
• Developmentally delayed with Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL) or Developmental Profile (DP-4) composite score below 85 (1 Standard Deviation below the mean)
• Availability of at least one English-speaking parent who can consistently participate in parent training and research measures.

You may not qualify if…

• Current or lifetime diagnosis of severe psychiatric disorder (e.g., bipolar disorder, etc.)
• Presence of active medical problem (e.g., unstable seizure disorder or heart disease)
• Child primary language other than English
• Previous adequate trial of Pivotal Response Treatment
• More than 15 hours per week of in-home applied behavior analysis (ABA).

Where it is running

• Stanford University School of Medicine — Stanford, California, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

Trial information comes from ClinicalTrials.gov and is refreshed daily. TrialsForMe does not provide medical care and does not run the studies it lists.