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Randomized controlled trial of family involved core features target intervention for young autistic children

Wen-Xiong Chen1, Zhi-Fang Huang1, Fang-Mei Feng1

  • 1Department of Behavioral Development, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China; The Assessment and Intervention Center for Autistic Children, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.

Acta Psychologica
|February 10, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Short-term core feature target intervention (CFTI) significantly improved communication and social skills in young autistic children. This psycho-behavioral program, involving families, offers a promising approach for early intervention in autism.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Behavioral Therapy

Background:

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) impacts young children's development.
  • Early intervention is crucial for improving outcomes in autism.
  • Core Feature Target Intervention (CFTI) is a novel psycho-behavioral program for children with autism.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of a short-term, family-involved Core Feature Target Intervention (CFTI) for young autistic children.
  • To assess the impact of CFTI on various developmental and behavioral domains.

Main Methods:

  • Randomized controlled trial with 101 autistic children (aged 1-7 years) allocated to CFTI or control group.
  • CFTI involved 20 sessions over four weeks.
  • Primary outcomes included Aberrant Behavior Checklist, Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC), and Clinical Global Impression-Improvement Scale (CGII).

Main Results:

  • Multivariate analysis revealed significant improvements in speech/language/communication (ATEC), cognitive/intelligence quotient (DQ/IQ), and global improvement (CGI-I) after CFTI.
  • Specific subtests of the Psychoeducational Profile-Third Edition (PEP-3) showed significant gains in cognitive verbal/preverbal skills, receptive language, fine motor, visual-motor imitation, social reciprocity, and problem behavior.

Conclusions:

  • A brief, four-week CFTI program demonstrated significant positive effects on communication and social reciprocity in young autistic children.
  • CFTI shows potential as an effective early intervention strategy for enhancing specific functional domains in autism.
Abstract

Keywords:
Autism spectrum disorderCore feature target intervention (CFTI)Family involvementRandomized controlled trialShort-termYoung children

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