1.24 THE TTT® (TACKLING TEENAGE TRAINING), SPANISH VERSION: A PILOT STUDY IN ADOLESCENTS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER

Objectives: The main aim of this study was to examine the feasibility and treatment efficacy of a Spanish version of the tackling teenage training (TTT) for enhancing psychosexual abilities through a pilot study. The original Dutch version was translated into Spanish and reviewed by child and adolescent mental health professionals with expertise in ASD. Methods: Participants were 22 adolescents between ages 12 and 18 years (mean age: 15.05 years (SD = 1.73), a diagnosis of ASD and a verbal intelligence quotient (VIQ) over 80. Primary outcome measures included questionnaires (parents and adolescents) quantifying social ability and problems directly related to ASD (Social Responsiveness Scale, SRS) and knowledge on sexuality (Knowledge Test, KT). Secondary outcome measures were scales for behavioral problems and internalizing problems (CBCL). Results: Treatment outcome suggest that the group showed significant improvement in autistic social impairment measured with the SRS (t = 2.38, P = 0.27), increased sexual knowledge on the KT (t = -6.26, P = 0.0001), and decreased aggressive behavior on the CBCL (t = 2.03, P = 0.05). A negative significant correlation was found between increased knowledge after intervention and age (r = -0.50, P = 0.02) and verbal IQ (r = -0.51, P = 0.016). Improvement on SRS scores was correlated with severity on stereotyped behaviors and restricted interests [domain C on Autism Diagnostic Interview, Revised (ADI-R)] (r = 0.51, P = 0.017). A trend to positive correlation was found with severity of symptoms on social interaction subdomain (A) on ADIR (r = 0.38, P = 0.08). Conclusions: The TTT psychosexual intervention appears to be efficacious for Spanish teenagers with ASD. Participants receiving the TTT treatment showed significant improvement in sexual knowledge and social impairment and less aggressive behavior after the treatment. Pretreatment lower age and lower VIQ along with greater severity on stereotyped behaviors and restricted interests were associated positively with stronger improvement in KT and SRS.