While there are many studies on interventions for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), there have been few studies on interventions for adults. But that has changed. Following 14 years of ambitious research, a pilot study, and two clinical trials, Shaun Eack, Professor of Social Work and Psychiatry, has determined that a treatment called Cognitive Enhancement Therapy (CET) helps adults with autism work to achieve their goals.
CET involves 60 hours of computer-based training administered to pairs of autistic adults to help improve their attention, memory, and problem-solving. There are also 45 small group sessions, with coaches, to help the adults with social cognitive abilities, such as perspective taking and learning to act wisely in social situations. Participants engage in these computer and group meetings about three hours per week.
Now, thanks to a collaboration with the Center for Autism and Developmental Disorders (CADD) at UPMC, individuals have undergone this 18-month-long cognitive rehabilitation intervention with successful results.
For Eack, it’s extremely fulfilling to assist this group – those who are high-functioning, without severe intellectual disabilities. This profile characterizes a significant portion of individuals with ASD.
“It’s the group that’s verbal, that flies under the radar,” said Eack. “They’ve been largely forgotten, but they have such incredible talents that if they just had some support, imagine what they could do with it.” Eack says these individuals often have normal or high IQs, and while they can be extremely challenged in being cognitively flexible (such as shifting from one task to another), they can excel in other areas, like being able to memorize details and facts, or solving problems in new and unique ways.
Once they have completed the CET treatment program, they have learned valuable skills that they can use in everyday life.
Allen Gregory, who directs the Center for Autism and Developmental Disorders (CADD) Adult Outpatient Clinic, welcomes the therapy and was excited by the results seen in the first cohort. Especially since treatment for adults on the spectrum is so uncommon.
“Pennsylvania is alone in offering services to adults with autism, through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid funding,” he said. “In other states, families and individuals are on their own.”
Now, he and Eack are looking forward to assembling the next cohort of 6 to 8 individuals. The fact that CADD is largely focused on more severely affected adults won’t deter them. Eack is considering building additional clinics, for people who don’t have intellectual disabilities, but still struggle to meet the goals they have set for themselves in adulthood.
That’s the group he is passionate about helping.
Said Eack: “If we could just harness the talents these individuals already have, and help them put these talents to good use, they could have more satisfying lives and make really great contributions to the world.”
In addition to this work with adults with autism, Eack continues his broader work on CET. In his ongoing study, Promoting Activity and Cognitive Enrichment in Schizophrenia (PACES), participants are receiving either CET or Enriched Supportive Therapy to combat negative symptoms associated with schizophrenia.