小集団作業療法が高機能広汎性発達障害児の心の理論に及ぼす効果—パイロットスタディ

The efficacy of a small occupational therapy group for theory of mind in children with high-functioning pervasive developmental disorder : A pilot study

要旨：4名の高機能広汎性発達障害(PDD)児を対象に，心の理論の改善を目指した小集団作業療法の短期的治療効果について研究した．治療は2週間行い，治療前後に各1週間コントロール期間を設けた．そして各期間の前後に心の理論検査と日本版高次の心の理論テストを実施した．

　その結果，治療後に4名中2名で双方のスコアは改善したが，他の2名は改善しなかった．但し，改善が見られた2名のうち1名は，治療後のコントロール期間後にスコアが下がっていた．従って，本研究の小集団作業療法は高機能PDD児の一部に効果があると考えられるが，効果の持続について更に研究が必要であると考える．

　This study examined the efficacy of short-term small group occupational therapy techniques with the aim of improving theory of mind. The subjects included 4 children with high-functioning pervasive developmental disorder (PDD). The study schedule consisted of 1-week of pre-therapy, 2-weeks of small group occupational therapy, and 1-week of post-therapy. At the start and end of each period, the children were tested by independent examiners, who were unaware of the study schedule, using Theory of Mind tests (TOM) and the Japanese version of an advanced test of theory of mind (Advanced TOM).

　The scores of TOM and Advanced TOM with regard to two of four children with PDD improved after therapy, while two did not. However, one of the children with PDD, whose scores rose after therapy, showed a reduction in scores on the TOM and Advanced TOM after the post-therapy period. Therefore, a small occupational therapy group using this technique might be effective for some children with high functioning PDD. Further study is needed to determine whether these improvements are temporary or permanent.