A local NHS mental health and disability Trust has been awarded a prestigious research grant.
Staff at the Complex Neurodevelopmental Disorder Service (CNDS) part of Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (NTW), along with colleagues from across the UK have recently been awarded a National Institute for Health Research health technology assessment (HTA) grant.
The CNDS team will investigate the clinical and cost effectiveness of a parent group intervention to help parents recognise, understand and manage challenging restricted repetitive behaviours in young children with autism aged three to seven years.
We have received over £1.5 million to run this important study.
Dr Victoria GrahameConsultant Clinical Psychologist
Managing repetitive behaviours (MRB) is an intervention designed to help parents of young children with autism to recognise, understand and learn how to manage their child’s challenging restricted repetitive behaviours. For some children this can include everyday sensory experiences such as the swishing sound of automatic doors. Repetitive behaviours can be very distressing for the children and it can be very difficult for families to know the best ways to help
The MRB intervention and evaluation research protocol has been developed in partnership with professionals and parents of young children with autism across the North East. If shown to be effective and value for money, the MRB parent group intervention would increase locally available therapeutic skills and resources.