SOAR Study Intervention v1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
SOAR Study Intervention- New approaches to managing the social skills deficits in Turner Syndrome
IRAS ID
219817
Contact name
David Skuse
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
UCL GOS ICH
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 3 months, 31 days
Research summary
Turner Syndrome (45,X) is one of the most common sex chromosome aneuploidies, with an incidence of 1 in 2500 female births. Turner Syndrome females have social difficulties throughout childhood, but these become more severe in adolescence. Previous research has shown Turner Syndrome is associated with specific deficits in social cognitive competence, especially forming and maintaining peer relationships. Untreated, there is often social withdrawal and depression in adulthood. Social deficits are exemplified by difficulties integrating within social groups, with poor deciphering and processing of social cues. As adults, many experience difficulties with social and partner relationships and make poor adjustment to a work environment. The social deficits of the syndrome have a substantial impact on functioning and wellbeing across the lifespan, but are rarely obvious to the paediatricians or endocrinologists who are primarily responsible for the care of people with the syndrome.
At present research into the psychological wellbeing of Turner Syndrome females is scarce and poorly documented. We hypothesise that the Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS; developed for Autism Spectrum Disorders) social skills training programme would reduce social anxiety and improve social adjustment. No previous study has evaluated the PEERS intervention with Turner Syndrome girls using a standardised evidence-based methodology.
This project aims to 1) examine the social skills difficulties of girls with Turner Syndrome and 2) examine the feasibility of adapting the PEERS intervention for use in Turner Syndrome.
REC name
London - West London & GTAC Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/LO/1496
Date of REC Opinion
12 Dec 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion