From the Guidelines
Effective treatments for social disengagement in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) include a combination of behavioral interventions, such as Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, and social skills training. ABA therapy is considered a gold standard approach, typically delivered for 20-40 hours weekly with consistent reinforcement of positive social behaviors 1. Social Skills Training groups that meet 1-2 times weekly for 60-90 minutes help individuals practice interactions in structured settings.
Key Components of Treatment
- Behavioral interventions: ABA therapy, social skills training
- Medication: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like fluoxetine or sertraline, low-dose risperidone or aripiprazole
- Parent/caregiver training: essential for consistent reinforcement of skills across environments
- Early intervention: crucial for maximizing neuroplasticity and improving outcomes Some key points to consider when implementing these treatments include:
- ABA techniques have been repeatedly shown to have efficacy for specific problem behaviors, and ABA has been found to be effective as applied to academic tasks, social skills, adaptive living, and vocational skills 1
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), particularly modified for ASD, can address social anxiety and improve engagement when delivered in weekly 45-60 minute sessions
- Pharmacologic interventions may increase the ability of persons with ASD to profit from educational and other interventions and to remain in less restrictive environments through the management of severe and challenging behaviors 1
- Combining medication with parent training is moderately more efficacious than medication alone for decreasing serious behavioral disturbance and modestly more efficacious for adaptive functioning 1
From the Research
Effective Treatments for Social Disengagement in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- There is limited evidence on the effectiveness of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in treating social disengagement in individuals with ASD 2, 3.
- Some studies suggest that SSRIs may be effective in improving symptoms of anxiety and obsessive-compulsive behavior in adults with ASD, but the evidence is limited and the risk of bias is unclear 2, 3, 4.
- Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) has strong evidence of effectiveness in helping people with autism achieve goals, but it is not commonly implemented in occupational therapy practice 5.
- Atypical antipsychotics, such as risperidone and aripiprazole, may reduce symptoms of irritability in children with ASD, but the evidence is low-certainty and more research is needed to determine their effectiveness and safety 6.
Treatment Options for Social Disengagement in ASD
- SSRIs: may be effective in improving symptoms of anxiety and obsessive-compulsive behavior in adults with ASD, but more research is needed to determine their effectiveness in treating social disengagement 2, 3, 4.
- ABA: has strong evidence of effectiveness in helping people with autism achieve goals, but more research is needed to determine its effectiveness in treating social disengagement 5.
- Atypical antipsychotics: may reduce symptoms of irritability in children with ASD, but more research is needed to determine their effectiveness and safety in treating social disengagement 6.
Future Research Directions
- More research is needed to determine the effectiveness of SSRIs, ABA, and atypical antipsychotics in treating social disengagement in individuals with ASD.
- Larger sample sizes and more comprehensive studies are needed to provide enough certainty about the efficacy and safety of these interventions 6.
- Consistent measurement methods for each outcome should be reported to avoid problems during the data synthesis process 6.