Outcomes in PEERS® for Adolescents Across Neurodevelopmental Disorders: ADHD, Autism, and Their Co‑occurrence
Authors: Zoe F. Geannopoulos, Christine T. Moody, Hadley A. McGregor, Daliah Baertschi, Shannon Bates, Elizabeth A. Laugeson
Accepted: 29 November 2023
The following is a summary of a recent study about the effectiveness of the PEERS® program in people with co-occurring autism and ADHD.
People with autism or ADHD often have difficulties with social skills. When someone has both autism and ADHD, these challenges can be even greater. While there are proven social skills programs for autistic people, there aren’t as many for teenagers with ADHD. It’s also unclear how having both conditions affects their response to social skills training.
This study looked at how well teenagers with ADHD, autism, or both conditions improved after participating in a social skills program called PEERS® for Adolescents. At the start, the groups had noticeable differences in social skills. However, after the program, all groups showed similar levels of improvement. Overall, teenagers in all groups gained better social skills and had fewer problem behaviours, proving that PEERS® is effective for adolescents with ADHD, autism, or both.