Australia | Two armed parallel RCT SS calculated based on previous studies of the program (N = 90) Exp: KONTAKT® (n = 46) Con: Active control cooking group (n = 44) | MQa = 96% PFb = 0.92 CONSORT diagram available- | Inclusion: Age: 12–17 years old (M/F = 65/25) IQ > 70 (WASI-II) Diagnosis: Autism, AS, Atypical autism, PDD-NOS (based on DSM-IV/5) confirmed by ADOS Exclusion: Insufficient English language skills, low expressed intrinsic motivation to attend, evidence of rule-breaking and/or aggressive behaviours (confirmed by CBCL), a self-reported history of severe clinically assessed self-injury, conduct disorder, antisocial personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, or any form of schizophrenia or related psychotic disorder | 4 centres from the Autism Association of Western Australia | 16 weekly sessions 90 min (AA) 3 × 90-min concurrent PAA sessions | 4–8 (AA) 19 (trained and supervised Occupational therapist [n = 12], psychologist [n = 2], educators [n = 3], social workers [n = 1], and speech therapists [n = 1]) | Free/No |
Choque Olsson et al. ( 2017) Sweden | Two armed parallel RCT SS calculated based on a pilot study (N = 296) Exp: KONTAKT® (n = 150) Con: Usual care (n = 146) | MQa = 88% PFb = 0.76 CONSORT diagram available | Inclusion: Age: 7–17 years old (M/F = 208/88) IQ > 70 (WISC-IV) Diagnosis: Autism, AS, Atypical autism, PDD-NOS (based on ICD-10) confirmed by ADOS Motivation to participate Exclusion: Clinically assessed self-injury, conduct disorder, anti-social personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, and any psychotic disorder, Insufficient Swedish language skills | 12 Outpatient units and one academic clinical outpatient unit | 12 weekly sessions 90 min (AA) /60 min (AC) 3 × 90-min concurrent PAA sessions | 4–8 (AA/AC) 2 (trained and supervised psychologists [n = 39], social workers [n = 5], nurses [n = 5], special educators [n = 2] and speech therapists [n = 1]) | NR /$12 Voucher |
USA | Two armed parallel RCT SS not calculated (N = 30) Exp: SENSE Theatre® (n = 14) Con: Waitlist (n = 16) | MQa = 81% PFb = 0.54 CONSORT diagram available | Inclusion: Age: 8–14 years old (M/F = 24/6) IQ > 70 (WASI) Diagnosis: ASD (based on DSM-5) confirmed by ADOS | University School of Nashville | 10 weekly sessions 240 min | NR (AA/AC) NR (trained and supervised staff [n = NR]) 12 (trained and supervised NTA, Mage = 15.33 years old, SD = 1.12, [n = NR]) | Free/NR |
USA | Two armed parallel RCT SS not calculated (N = 77) Exp: SENSE Theatre® (n = 44) Con: Waitlist (n = 33) | MQa = 81% PFb = 0.62 No CONSORT diagram | Inclusion: Age: 8–16 years old (M/F = 59/18) IQ > 70 (WASI) Diagnosis: ASD (based on DSM-5) confirmed by ADOS Exclusion: Aggressive behaviours (verbal or physical threats of harming other | A School auditorium | 10 weekly sessions 240 min | NR (AA/AC) NR (trained and supervised staff [n = NR]) 12 (trained and supervised USN Theatre Guild members [n = NR]) | Free/NR |
Germany | Two armed parallel RCT SS calculated based on a pilot study (N = 209) Exp: SOSTA-FRA (n = 107) Con: Usual care (n = 102) | MQa = 81% PFb = 0.51 No CONSORT diagram | Inclusion: Age: 8–19 years old (M/F = 186/15) IQ > 70 (WISC/WAIS) Diagnosis: Autism, AS, Atypical autism (based on ICD-10) confirmed by ADOS/ADI-R Fluency in German Exclusion: Schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, social phobia, OCD, MDD with suicidal thoughts, psychiatric disorders, aggressive
behaviour, neurological disorders (except well-treated epilepsy), medical conditions interfering with therapy, exposure to SSGPs
(< 6 months) | Six German University Departments and an outpatient clinic | 12 weekly sessions 90 min (AA) /60 min (AC) 3 × 90-min concurrent PAA session | 4–5 (AA/AC) 2 (CBT-trained therapists [n = NR], supervision NR) | NR/NR |
Sweden | Two armed parallel RCT SS not calculated (N = 50) Exp: KONTAKT® (n = 23) Con: Usual care (n = 27) | MQa = 96% PFb = 0.82 CONSORT diagram available | Inclusion: Age: 7–17 years old (M/F = 35/15) IQ > 70 (WISC-III/IV) Diagnosis: ASD (based on ICD-10) confirmed by ADOS Motivation to participate Exclusion: Clinically assessed self-injury, conduct disorder, anti-social borderline personality disorder, psychotic disorders, Insufficient Swedish language skills | psychiatry outpatient unit and an academic clinical outpatient unit | 24 weekly sessions 90 min (AA) /60 min (AC) 3 × 90-min concurrent parent session | 4–8 (AA/AC) 2–3 (trained and supervised Psychologists [n = 7]) | NR/€11 Voucher |
USA | Two armed parallel RCT SS not calculated (N = 40) Exp: PEERS® (n = 20) Con: Waitlist (n = 20) | MQa = 96% PFb = 0.56 No CONSORT diagram | Inclusion: Age: 12–17 years old (M/F = 24/11) IQ > 70 (KBIT) Diagnosis: ASD (based on DSM-5) diagnosis not confirmed Communicate/comprehend full sentences; mild/severe autism characteristics | NR | 20 weekly sessions 90 min (AA) 5–10 min (PAA) | 4–6 (AA) NR (trained and supervised undergraduate research assistants [n = 4]) NR (trained and supervised NTA volunteers) | NR/NR |
USA | Two armed parallel RCT SS not calculated (N = 33) Exp: PEERS® (n = 17) Con: Waitlist (n = 16) | MQa = 77% PFb = 0.43 No CONSORT diagram | Inclusion: Age: 13–17 years old (M/F = 28/5) IQ > 70 (K-BIT) Diagnosis: High functioning autism, AS, PDD-NOS (based on ICD-10) diagnosis not confirmed Fluency in English No history of major mental illness (e.g., bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or psychosis), hearing, visual, or physical impairments | NR | 12 weekly sessions 90 min (AA/PAA) | 7 (AA) NR (trained and supervised psychologists [n = NR]) 1 (trained and supervised coaches, Psychology postgraduate student Research assistant [n = NR]) | NR/Paid parking, brief evaluation summary, weekly light meal with beverages |
USA | Two armed parallel RCT SS not calculated (N = 13) Exp: SDARI (n = 7) Con: Active control (Skill streaming; n = 6) | MQa = 77% PFb = 0.53 No CONSORT diagram | Inclusion: Age: NR (M/F = 13/0) IQ: NR Diagnosis: Autism, AS, PDD-NOS (based on ICD-10) confirmed by SCQ & SRS | NR | 4 weekly sessions 90 min | 7 (AA) NR (trained and supervised staff [n = 3]) | NR/NR |
USA | Three armed parallel RCT SS not calculated (N = 34) Exp: PEERS® with peers (n = 12) Con 1: Active control (traditional PEERS®, n = 10) Con 2: Waitlist (n = 12) | MQa = 85% PFb = 0.52 No CONSORT diagram | Inclusion: Age: 13–17 years old (M/F = 28/6) Verbal IQ > 70 (K-BIT) Diagnosis: Autism, ASD (based on DSM-IV/5) confirmed by ADOS > 80% education in the general education setting, difficulty making friends according to parent report, parent willingness to be involved Exclusion: Home-schooled or online students | A community-based non-profit autism centre | 14 weekly sessions 90 min (AA/PAA) | NR (AA) 3 (trained and supervised postgraduate counsellors [n = 3] and undergraduate clinicians [n = 1]) NR (trained and supervised NTA peers with no diagnosed disorders [n = 8]) | NR/$150 Voucher |
USA | Two armed parallel RCT SS not calculated (N = 21) Exp: Accelerated PEERS® (n = 11) Con: Active control (traditional PEERS®; n = 10) | MQa = 77% PFb = 0.31 No CONSORT diagram | Inclusion: Age: 13–17 years old
(M/F = 17/4) Verbal IQ > 70 (K-BIT) Diagnosis: ASD (based on DSM-IV /5) confirmed by ADOS > 80% in the general education setting, difficulty making friends according to parent report, parent willingness to be involved | A community-based non-profit autism centre | 14 weekly sessions 90 min (AA/PAA) | 5 (AA) 3 (trained and supervised Master’s and Bachelor’s level practitioners [n = NR]) NR (trained and supervised NTA [n = NR]) | NR/NR |
Rabin et al. ( 2018) Israel | Two armed parallel RCT SS not calculated (N = 41) Exp: PEERS® (n = 20) Con: Waitlist (n = 21) | MQa = 88% PFb = 0.30 No CONSORT diagram | Inclusion: Age: 12–17 years old (M/F = 39/2) IQ > 70 (WISC-III/IV) Diagnosis: ASD (based on ICD-10) confirmed by ADOS Motivation to participate Born in Israel & Speak Hebrew No severe behavioural problems; Parents willingness to be a social coach and attend all sessions | NR | 16 weekly sessions 90 min (AA/PAA) | NR | NR/Voucher for Parents and teachers (amount NR) |
USA | Two armed parallel RCT SS not calculated (N = 58) Exp: PEERS® (n = 25) Con: Waitlist (n = 33) | MQa = 81% PFb = 0.36 CONSORT diagram available | Inclusion: Age: 11–16 years old (M/F = 47/11) Verbal IQ > 70 (K-BIT) Diagnosis: ASD, confirmed by ADOS Motivation to participate Fluency in English No history of major mental illness (e.g., bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or psychosis), hearing, visual, or physical impairments | NR | 14 weekly sessions 90 min (AA/PAA) | ≤ 10 (AA) 3 (trained and supervised postgraduate psychology students [n = 5]) 1 (trained and supervised undergraduate research assistants [n = NR]) | Free/$30 Voucher |
China | Two armed parallel RCT SS not calculated (N = 72) Exp: PEERS® (n = 43) Con: Waitlist (n = 29) | MQa = 85% PFb = 0.35 CONSORT diagram available | Inclusion: Age: 11–15 years old (M/F = 57/15) Verbal IQ > 70 (WISC-IV) Diagnosis: Autistic disorder, AS, ASD, PDD-NOS (based on ICD-10) confirmed by ADOS Fluency in Cantonese Studying at a high school in Hong Kong Exclusion: Low motivation, ADOS < 5, other medical problems, previous exposure to PEERS® | At community service centres | 14 weekly sessions 90 min (AA/PAA) | ≤ 10 (AA) 4 (trained and supervised social workers, speech therapists or occupational therapists [n = 18]) NR (trained and supervised Psychology undergraduate student coaches [n = NR]) | NR/NR |
USA | Two armed parallel RCT with case-control SS not calculated (N = 79) Exp: PEERS® (AA, n = 35) Con: Waitlist (AA, n = 31) Case-control (NTA, n = 30) | MQa = 81% PFb = 0.44 CONSORT diagram available | Inclusion (AA/NTA): Age: 11–16 years old (M/F = 67/12) Verbal IQ > 70 (WISC-IV) Motivation to make friends Fluency in English No neural, physical, hearing, or visual impairments, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia co-occurrence; and enrolment in middle/high school or having weekly peers contacts outside of the family, if home-schooled Additional requirements for AA: Diagnosis: Autism, ASD (based on the DSM-IV) confirmed by ADOS Attending at least 12 sessions Additional requirements for NTA: ASSQ < 13 and CBCL < 65 | NR | 14 weekly sessions 90 min (AA/PAA) | NR (AA) NR (trained and supervised postgraduate psychology students [n = NR]) NR (trained and supervised Psychology undergraduate student coaches [n = NR]) | Free/$30 Voucher |
USA | Two armed parallel RCT SS not calculated (N = 40) Exp: START (n = 21) Con: Waitlist (n = 19) | MQa = 85% PFb = 0.44 CONSORT diagram available | Inclusion: Age: 12–17 years old (M/F = 24/11) Verbal IQ > 70 (K-BIT) Diagnosis: Autism, AS, Atypical autism, PDD-NOS, confirmed by ADI-R Exclusion: Not having an ASD diagnosis | NR | 20 weekly sessions 90 min (AA) 5–10 min (PAA) | 3–6 (AA) 2–4 (trained and supervised undergraduate research assistants [n = NR]) 1–2 (trained and supervised NTA volunteers [n = NR]) | NR/NR |
USA | Two armed parallel RCT SS not calculated (N = 30) Exp: MASSI (n = 15) Con: Waitlist (n = 15) | MQa = 88% PFb = 0.44 CONSORT diagram available | Inclusion Age: 12–17 years old (M/F = 23/7) Verbal IQ > 70 (measure NR) Diagnosis: Autism, AS, PDD-NOS, confirmed by ADOS Exclusion: Primary diagnosis of OCD, special phobias, panic disorder with/without Agoraphobia, Serious behaviour issues | NR | 13 (In)/7 (G) weekly sessions 60–75 min | 3 (AA) 1 (trained and supervised psychologists [n = 1] and postgraduate psychology students) NR (trained and supervised NTA volunteers [n = NR]) | NR/NR |
Korea | Two armed parallel RCT SS not calculated (N = 47) Exp: PEERS® (n = 23) Con: Waitlist (n = 24) | MQa = 88% PFb = 0.47 No CONSORT diagram | Inclusion: Age: 12–18 years old (M/F = 44/3) Verbal IQ > 65 (WISC-IV) Diagnosis: Autistic disorder, AS, PDD-NOS, confirmed by ADOS Motivation to participate Fluency in Korean No history of major mental illness, current aggressive behaviour or severe oppositional tendency, and no hearing, visual, physical, or neurological disabilities | NR | 14 weekly sessions 90 min (AA/PAA) | 6–10 (AA) NR (trained and supervised Psychiatrists, psychologists, special educators [n = 6]) NR (trained and supervised coaches [n = 3]) | NR/NR |