A Phase 2 interventional study of magic trick training in Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorder, sponsored by University of Alabama at Birmingham. Recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 11 Years to 18 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-02-06.
Sponsored by University of Alabama at Birmingham · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment
The proposed project will attempt to confirm the benefits of a structured magic trick training program (MTTP) experience in adolescents with autism. Benefits of participating in a 6-week virtual MTTP will be evaluated using validated assessments to measure social-emotional competencies.
The proposed study will employ a RCT to test the two hypotheses. The design of the MTTP is based on the SEL framework. The study will incorporate a 2 x 3 two-way factorial design with repeated measures at three time points. The two between-subject factor conditions will be participation in a MTTP versus a waitlist control condition that will be evaluated at baseline, immediately post-program, and at 6-week follow-up (within-subject factor conditions). Sixty adolescents with autism will be recruited for this study.
Aim 1. Evaluate the therapeutic benefits of a 6-week virtual MTTP on social-emotional functioning, and emotional stress among adolescents with autism.
Hypothesis #1: Adolescents with autism who participate in a virtual MTTP will demonstrate better social-emotional functioning, and a reduction in emotional stress compared to waitlist controls at the conclusion of a 6-week MTTP.
Hypothesis #2: The positive impact of the virtual MTTP on the participants' improved social-emotional functioning, and reduction in emotional stress will be maintained at 6-week follow-up.
1,030 studies on the registry are indexed under Autistic Disorder; 266 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 60 is above the median of 49 across 811 interventional studies indexed under Autistic Disorder.
Browse Autistic Disorder studies →University of Alabama at Birmingham is the lead sponsor of 1,421 studies on the registry; 277 are open to participants now.
Of its 164 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 130 (79%) have results posted.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Participation in a 6 weekly virtual magic trick training camp with three lessons per week.
Behavioral: magic trick training
Participation in usual daily activities.
A typical session will begin with the magician demonstrating a magic trick then revealing the secret move of the trick.The participants will learn and practice each trick. With assistance from the magician, participants will develop an oralstory presentation for the trick. After participants master one trick, the magician will demonstrate and teach the next.
Test of Adolescents Social Skills Knowledge (TASSK)
The TASSK is a self-report 30-item questionnaire that measures knowledge of specific social skills. Scores range between 0 to 26 with higher score reflecting greater knowledge of adolescent social skills.
Time frame: baseline
Test of Adolescents Social Skills Knowledge (TASSK)
The TASSK is a self-report 30-item questionnaire that measures knowledge of specific social skills. Scores range between 0 to 26 with higher score reflecting greater knowledge of adolescent social skills.
Time frame: at 6 week
Test of Adolescents Social Skills Knowledge (TASSK)
The TASSK is a self-report 30-item questionnaire that measures knowledge of specific social skills. Scores range between 0 to 26 with higher score reflecting greater knowledge of adolescent social skills.
Time frame: at 12 week
Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)
SDQ (peer problem scale and prosocial scale) consists of 10 items rated on a 3-point Likert-type scale (not true=1 to certainly true=3), with higher scores indicating higher psychological problems. Some items require reverse scoring.
Time frame: baseline
Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)
SDQ (peer problem scale and prosocial scale) consists of 10 items rated on a 3-point Likert-type scale (not true=1 to certainly true=3), with higher scores indicating higher psychological problems. Some items require reverse scoring.
Time frame: at 6 week
Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)
SDQ (peer problem scale and prosocial scale) consists of 10 items rated on a 3-point Likert-type scale (not true=1 to certainly true=3), with higher scores indicating higher psychological problems. Some items require reverse scoring.
Time frame: at 12 week
Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale (RSES)
RSES consists of 10 items rated on a 4-point Likert-type scale, with higher scores indicate higher self-esteem.
Time frame: baseline
Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale (RSES)
RSES consists of 10 items rated on a 4-point Likert-type scale, with higher scores indicate higher self-esteem.
Time frame: at 6 week
Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale (RSES)
RSES consists of 10 items rated on a 4-point Likert-type scale, with higher scores indicate higher self-esteem.
Time frame: at 12 week
UCLA Loneliness Scale Version 3
The UCLA Loneliness Scale (Version 3) is a 20-item measure that assesses how often a person feels disconnected from others. Using a 4-point rating scale (1= never; 4 = always), participants answer 20 questions, such as "How often do you feel left out?" and "How often do you feel part of a group of friends?" Researchers later reverse-code the positively worded items so that high values mean more loneliness, and then calculate a score for each respondent by averaging their ratings.
Time frame: baseline
UCLA Loneliness Scale Version 3
The UCLA Loneliness Scale (Version 3) is a 20-item measure that assesses how often a person feels disconnected from others. Using a 4-point rating scale (1= never; 4 = always), participants answer 20 questions, such as "How often do you feel left out?" and "How often do you feel part of a group of friends?" Researchers later reverse-code the positively worded items so that high values mean more loneliness, and then calculate a score for each respondent by averaging their ratings.
Time frame: at 6 week
UCLA Loneliness Scale Version 3
The UCLA Loneliness Scale (Version 3) is a 20-item measure that assesses how often a person feels disconnected from others. Using a 4-point rating scale (1= never; 4 = always), participants answer 20 questions, such as "How often do you feel left out?" and "How often do you feel part of a group of friends?" Researchers later reverse-code the positively worded items so that high values mean more loneliness, and then calculate a score for each respondent by averaging their ratings.
Time frame: at 12 week
Self-efficacy Questionnaire for Children
It consists of 16 items rated on a 5-point Likert-type scale (not at all=1 to very well=5) with higher scores indicating higher self-efficacy.
Time frame: baseline
Self-efficacy Questionnaire for Children
It consists of 16 items rated on a 5-point Likert-type scale (not at all=1 to very well=5) with higher scores indicating higher self-efficacy.
Time frame: at 6 week
Self-efficacy Questionnaire for Children
It consists of 16 items rated on a 5-point Likert-type scale (not at all=1 to very well=5) with higher scores indicating higher self-efficacy.
Time frame: at 12 week
Best Friend Index
The Best Friend Index is a scale for the measurement of the features of positive and negative friendship consisting of 18 items. Each item is answered on a 5-point scale (from 1= Never to 5=Very often).
Time frame: baseline
Best Friend Index
The Best Friend Index is a scale for the measurement of the features of positive and negative friendship consisting of 18 items. Each item is answered on a 5-point scale (from 1= Never to 5=Very often).
Time frame: at 6 week
Best Friend Index
The Best Friend Index is a scale for the measurement of the features of positive and negative friendship consisting of 18 items. Each item is answered on a 5-point scale (from 1= Never to 5=Very often).
Time frame: at 12 week
Quality of Socialization Questionnaire
It is a 12-item self-report and parent-report measure to assess the frequency of adolescents get-together, number of friends involved and the level of conflict during get-togethers over the previous month.
Time frame: baseline
Quality of Socialization Questionnaire
It is a 12-item self-report and parent-report measure to assess the frequency of adolescents get-together, number of friends involved and the level of conflict during get-togethers over the previous month.
Time frame: at 6 week
Quality of Socialization Questionnaire
It is a 12-item self-report and parent-report measure to assess the frequency of adolescents get-together, number of friends involved and the level of conflict during get-togethers over the previous month.
Time frame: at 12 week
Autism Social Skills Profile
It is a checklist that provides a comprehensive measure of social functioning of children and adolescents who are on the Autism Spectrum. The 49 items are rated on a 4-point Likert scale with 1=never, 2=sometimes, 3=often, and 4=very often. The test yields three subscale scores: Social/Emotional Reciprocity (SER), Social Participation/Avoidance (SPA), and Detrimental Social Behaviors (DSB), as well as a total score.
Time frame: baseline
Autism Social Skills Profile
It is a checklist that provides a comprehensive measure of social functioning of children and adolescents who are on the Autism Spectrum. The 49 items are rated on a 4-point Likert scale with 1=never, 2=sometimes, 3=often, and 4=very often. The test yields three subscale scores: Social/Emotional Reciprocity (SER), Social Participation/Avoidance (SPA), and Detrimental Social Behaviors (DSB), as well as a total score.
Time frame: at 6 week
Autism Social Skills Profile
It is a checklist that provides a comprehensive measure of social functioning of children and adolescents who are on the Autism Spectrum. The 49 items are rated on a 4-point Likert scale with 1=never, 2=sometimes, 3=often, and 4=very often. The test yields three subscale scores: Social/Emotional Reciprocity (SER), Social Participation/Avoidance (SPA), and Detrimental Social Behaviors (DSB), as well as a total score.
Time frame: at 12 week
Stanford Social Dimensions Scale
The SSDS is more comprehensive, sensitive and specific compared to other instruments in terms of capturing key social processes that are necessary for understanding of social deficits in conditions. The 71 items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale with 1=never, 2=rarely, 3=sometimes, 4=often, and 5=always.
Time frame: baseline
Stanford Social Dimensions Scale
IThe SSDS is more comprehensive, sensitive and specific compared to other instruments in terms of capturing key social processes that are necessary for understanding of social deficits in conditions. The 71 items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale with 1=never, 2=rarely, 3=sometimes, 4=often, and 5=always.
Time frame: at 6 week
Stanford Social Dimensions Scale
The SSDS is more comprehensive, sensitive and specific compared to other instruments in terms of capturing key social processes that are necessary for understanding of social deficits in conditions. The 71 items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale with 1=never, 2=rarely, 3=sometimes, 4=often, and 5=always.
Time frame: at 12 week
Emotional stress
the amount of cortisol in participants' hair.
Time frame: baseline
Emotional stress
the amount of cortisol in participants' hair.
Time frame: at 6 week
Emotional stress
the amount of cortisol in participants' hair.
Time frame: at 12 week
Plan to share: No
Started Mar 2023 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Feb 2028, 58 months after the start.
Of 35 non-industry phase 2 interventional studies under Autistic Disorder, half reached primary completion within 46 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 24 and three quarters within 63. This study's planned 58 months is above that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 44 studies reached it within 39 months; a quarter within 24 and three quarters within 62.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
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