A Randomized Control Trial of Cognitive Behavior and Emotional Enhancement Intervention for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Objectives: To evaluate the effects of cognitive behavioral intervention (CBI) alone versus cognitive behavioral intervention plus emotional enhancement intervention (EEI) on adaptive behavior, social interaction, and emotional reciprocity among a sample of children with autism spectrum disorder. Methods: Thirty-four children (aged 4 to 10 years) were randomly assigned to an experimental group receiving CBI plus EEI versus a CBI-only control group. Children in both groups received 24 one-hour sessions of intervention over 6 months. They were assessed on the functioning level of autism, specifically in the areas of adaptive behavior, social interaction, and emotional reciprocity, before intervention and at 3 and 6 months using the Indian Scale for Assessment of Autism (ISAA) and the Gilliam Autism Rating Scale, third edition (GARS-3). Results: Children in the experimental group showed significantly greater improvement in adaptive behavior, social interaction, and emotional reciprocity than children in the CBI-only control group. Conclusions: Adding EEI enhances the effectiveness of CBI for improving adaptive behavior, social interaction, and emotional reciprocity in children with autism spectrum disorder. Trial Registration: Clinical Trials Registry of India CTRI/2021/03/031763.