Recruiting
Phase 2

Observational Study

Sponsor:

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Code:

NCT05664841

Conditions

Autism

Pervasive Developmental Disorder

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 11 - 18

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

magic trick training

Study Details

Brief summary:

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.

Conditions

Autism

Pervasive Developmental Disorder

Study ID

NCT05664841

Start date

Mar 27, 2023

Status verified date

Feb, 2026

Completion date

Feb 1, 2028

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Feb 1, 2028

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 11 - 18

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Confirmed diagnosis (with proof of evidence) of autism;
  • Aged between 11 and 18 years (younger children may lack the inductive reasoning skills to learn magic tricks);
  • Have functional hand dexterity to do magic tricks
  • Intact cognition as indicated by a score above the corresponding cut-off point of the child's age on the Mini-Mental Examination for Children; and
  • Access to internet and a computer or smartphone that can perform videoconferencing.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Severe hearing or visual impairments that prevent online learning;
  • Previous participation in organized magic learning program or camp;
  • Current or planned participation in psychological therapy or a clinical trial during the study period that could affect the outcomes of the study.

Study Design

Enrollment

60 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Treatment

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: magic trick training

Participation in a 6 weekly virtual magic trick training camp with three lessons per week.

no intervention: waitlist control

Participation in usual daily activities.

Interventions

magic trick training

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.

Primary outcome measure

  • Test of Adolescents Social Skills Knowledge (TASSK) [ Time Frame: baseline ]
  • Test of Adolescents Social Skills Knowledge (TASSK) [ Time Frame: at 6 week ]
  • Test of Adolescents Social Skills Knowledge (TASSK) [ Time Frame: at 12 week ]
  • Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) [ Time Frame: baseline ]
  • Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) [ Time Frame: at 6 week ]
  • Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) [ Time Frame: at 12 week ]
  • Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale (RSES) [ Time Frame: baseline ]
  • Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale (RSES) [ Time Frame: at 6 week ]
  • Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale (RSES) [ Time Frame: at 12 week ]
  • UCLA Loneliness Scale Version 3 [ Time Frame: baseline ]
  • UCLA Loneliness Scale Version 3 [ Time Frame: at 6 week ]
  • UCLA Loneliness Scale Version 3 [ Time Frame: at 12 week ]
  • Self-efficacy Questionnaire for Children [ Time Frame: baseline ]
  • Self-efficacy Questionnaire for Children [ Time Frame: at 6 week ]
  • Self-efficacy Questionnaire for Children [ Time Frame: at 12 week ]
  • Best Friend Index [ Time Frame: baseline ]
  • Best Friend Index [ Time Frame: at 6 week ]
  • Best Friend Index [ Time Frame: at 12 week ]
  • Quality of Socialization Questionnaire [ Time Frame: baseline ]
  • Quality of Socialization Questionnaire [ Time Frame: at 6 week ]
  • Quality of Socialization Questionnaire [ Time Frame: at 12 week ]
  • Autism Social Skills Profile [ Time Frame: baseline ]
  • Autism Social Skills Profile [ Time Frame: at 6 week ]
  • Autism Social Skills Profile [ Time Frame: at 12 week ]
  • Stanford Social Dimensions Scale [ Time Frame: baseline ]
  • Stanford Social Dimensions Scale [ Time Frame: at 6 week ]
  • Stanford Social Dimensions Scale [ Time Frame: at 12 week ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Hon Yuen

205-934-6301yuen@uab.edu

Kimberly Kirklin

205-934-0862kkirklin@uab.edu

Locations

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Recruiting

Birmingham, Alabama, United States, 35294

Principal Investigator:

Hon K Yuen, PhD

More Information

Sponsor

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Last update posted

Feb 6, 2026

Last verified

Feb, 2026

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-08. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by University of Alabama at Birmingham on 2026-02-06.