Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) affect approx. 2% of children and adolescents. There is a lack of evidence-based interventions targeting the core symptoms of ASD.

PACT is a parent-mediated intervention, developed to improve social and communicative skills (i.e. core symptoms) in children with ASD. The intervention consists of 18 training sessions with a therapist over a year. Play sessions between parents and children are video-recorded by the parents and reviewed with the therapist so that the parents can continuously practice skills with the child.

DANPACT is a researcher-initiated, nationwide, randomised, clinical trial that investigates the effect of the PACT intervention in children between 2-6 years of age with ASD, compared to usual treatment and support services. DANPACT examines whether the effect of PACT primarily affects autism symptomatology, language development, or adaptive functioning; and whether the effect is different depending on age (2-4 vs. 5-6 years), the level of cognitive development, or comorbid symptoms. This could potentially enable a personalized optimization of treatment at subgroup level. The trial is running from the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Centers in all 5 Danish regions. As part of the design, the study prepares the implementation of PACT in clinical practice across the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Centers in Denmark, if the treatment is effective.