A randomized clinical trial to test the effectiveness of a Computerized Progressive Attentional Training (CPAT) program to improve academic and attentional performance in children with Autism

Abstract

The application of a recent attention-training program, the Computerized Progressive Attentional Training (CPAT), brought specific and generalized improvements to different populations, including attentional, academic and cognitive improvements in children with ADHD, ASD, Alcohol Foetal Syndrome and Stroke patients. The present study will be a randomized, double-blind, three-month follow-up trial aimed at assessing the effects of the CPAT in children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the public health system in São Paulo, following recommendations and improvements suggested in previous studies. In this project, the CPAT will be tested with a cohort of 40 8 to 14 year old children with ASD who attend the Autism outpatient clinic of CAISM, at Santa Casa de Misericórdia in São Paulo. Half the children will be randomly selected for the active control group, playing computer games using the same structure and length as the CPAT group. For the first time, the CPAT will be applied in the public health system in Brazil, utilizing available resources from the public system and training will be conducted in small groups. Performance will be assessed using various pre and post-test instruments to measure academic performance, attention, cognition, and behaviour and ASD symptoms. It is hypothesized that this clinical trial will be able to prove the efficacy and maintenance of the positive effects of the CPAT in comparison to a control group of children from the Brazilian public system. (AU)