Elizabeth A Laugeson

Title(s)HS Clinical Professor, Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences
SchoolMedicine
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Pepperdine University, Malibu, CADoctorate Clinical Psychology
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National Institutes of Health2004  - 2005Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award
National Institutes of Health2006  - 2007Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award
UCLA The Friends of the Semel Institute2008  - 2009Semel Scholar Award
Pepperdine University2010  - 2011Distinguished Alumnus Award

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Dr. Elizabeth Laugeson is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior and is a licensed clinical psychologist. She serves as Director of the UCLA Tarjan Center, a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, and is the Founding Director of the UCLA PEERS Clinic, which provides parent and caregiver assisted social skills programs for individuals from preschool to adulthood.

Dr. Laugeson has held numerous leadership roles, including Program Director for UCLA’s Predoctoral Psychology Internship Program in Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (2016–2024), Program Director for the Dissemination, Outreach and Education Core of the UCLA Autism Center of Excellence (2017-2022), Training Director for the UCLA Tarjan Center (2014–2021), Founding Director of The Help Group–UCLA Autism Research Alliance (2007–2017), Director of the UCLA Early Childhood Clubhouse Program (2007–2010), and Associate Director of the UCLA Parenting and Children’s Friendship Training Program (2007–2010). She earned her doctorate in clinical psychology from Pepperdine University, completed her predoctoral internship at the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute, and is a two-time recipient of the NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award.

As the creator of PEERS, one of the only evidence-based and globally recognized social skills programs for neurodivergent individuals, Dr. Laugeson has trained tens of thousands of professionals, educators, and families worldwide. Her programs are used in over 150 countries, translated into a dozen languages, and focus on improving social functioning across the lifespan.

A principal investigator on numerous nationally funded studies, she has authored five books, including the critically acclaimed, The Science of Making Friends. Her work has been featured in People Magazine, USA Today, The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, and major networks like ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, and in the Emmy-winning Netflix series Love on the Spectrum.
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Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Researchers can login to make corrections and additions, or contact us for help. to make corrections and additions.
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  1. Brief Report: Social Responsiveness and Parenting Stress as Predictors of Social Skills Outcomes in Autistic Children Following the PEERS® for Preschoolers Program. J Autism Dev Disord. 2025 Feb 20. Tuli S, Moody CT, Fisher KL, Aframian K, Chou JY, Laugeson EA. PMID: 39976760.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    
  2. A preliminary randomized controlled study of the PEERS® program for Taiwanese autistic adolescents: The effectiveness on reducing school bullying and enhancing social function. Autism Res. 2024 08; 17(8):1705-1720. Hsiao MN, Chien YL, Tai YM, Chen HM, Shih HH, Chen LW, Chen YY, Soong WT, Chiu YN, Tsai WC, Laugeson E, Tseng MH, Gau SS. PMID: 39169699.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
  3. Enhancing social outcomes in autistic youth: Assessing the impact of PEERS® booster sessions. Res Dev Disabil. 2024 Apr; 147:104698. Fatta LM, Bianchi D, Laugeson EA, Veytsman E, Romano G, Laghi F, Scattoni ML. PMID: 38401194.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
  4. Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS®) for Italy: A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Social Skills Intervention for Autistic Adolescents. J Autism Dev Disord. 2025 Jan; 55(1):202-220. Fatta LM, Laugeson EA, Bianchi D, Italian Peers® team support group, Laghi F, Scattoni ML. PMID: 38190054; PMCID: PMC11802708.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    
  5. Parent perspectives on treatment: A mixed methods analysis of PEERS® for Preschoolers. Autism. 2024 02; 28(2):390-402. Tripathi I, Moody CT, Laugeson EA. PMID: 37306138; PMCID: PMC10851630.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
  6. Fostering Friendship and Dating Skills Among Adults on the Autism Spectrum: A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Polish Version of the PEERS® for Young Adults Curriculum. J Autism Dev Disord. 2024 Jun; 54(6):2224-2239. Platos M, Wojaczek K, Laugeson EA. PMID: 37043040; PMCID: PMC10090714.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
  7. Remote PEERS® for preschoolers: A pilot parent-mediated social skills intervention for young children with social challenges over telehealth. Front Psychiatry. 2022; 13:1008485. Factor RS, Glass L, Baertschi D, Laugeson EA. PMID: 36523874; PMCID: PMC9745198.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions:
  8. PEERS® for Preschoolers preliminary outcomes and predictors of treatment response. J Autism Dev Disord. 2023 Dec; 53(12):4671-4684. Antezana L, Albright J, Scarpa A, Richey JA, Laugeson EA, Factor RS. PMID: 36103076; PMCID: PMC10011023.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
  9. Effects of Social Skills Training for Adolescents on the Autism Spectrum: a Randomized Controlled Trial of the Polish Adaptation of the PEERS® Intervention via Hybrid and In-Person Delivery. J Autism Dev Disord. 2023 Nov; 53(11):4132-4146. Platos M, Wojaczek K, Laugeson EA. PMID: 36001196; PMCID: PMC9399988.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 4     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  10. Program evaluation of an adapted PEERS® social skills program in young adults with autism spectrum disorder and/or mild intellectual impairment and social skills difficulties. J Eval Clin Pract. 2023 02; 29(1):126-135. Honan I, Sharp N, McIntyre S, Smithers-Sheedy H, Balde I, Quinn K, Morgan M, Rothery S, Butchers T, Laugeson EA. PMID: 35927973; PMCID: PMC10946497.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 2     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  11. A pilot study of PEERS® for Careers: A comprehensive employment-focused social skills intervention for autistic young adults in the United States. Res Dev Disabil. 2022 Sep; 128:104287. Moody CT, Factor RS, Gulsrud AC, Grantz CJ, Tsai K, Jolliffe M, Rosen NE, McCracken JT, Laugeson EA. PMID: 35772303.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 3     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  12. Efficacy of PEERS® for Adolescents via Telehealth Delivery. J Autism Dev Disord. 2022 Dec; 52(12):5232-5242. Estabillo JA, Moody CT, Poulhazan SJ, Adery LH, Denluck EM, Laugeson EA. PMID: 35624224; PMCID: PMC9137447.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 9     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  13. Examining Feasibility and Outcomes of the PEERS® for Preschoolers Program. J Autism Dev Disord. 2023 May; 53(5):1821-1833. Factor RS, Rea HM, Laugeson EA, Scarpa A. PMID: 35267147.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 3     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  14. Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills for adolescents with an acquired brain injury: A randomized controlled trial. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2022 06; 64(6):771-779. Gilmore R, Ziviani J, Mcintyre S, Smithers Sheedy H, Hilton N, Williams T, Chatfield MD, Laugeson E, Sakzewski L, Friends Project Group. PMID: 35092016.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  15. An Initial Pilot Study Examining Child Social Skills, Caregiver Styles, and Family Functioning in the PEERS® for Preschoolers Program for Young Autistic Children and their Caregivers. Res Dev Disabil. 2022 Feb; 121:104152. Factor RS, Rea HM, Dahiya AV, Albright J, Ollendick TH, Laugeson EA, Scarpa A. PMID: 34942441.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 3     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  16. A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Korean Version of the Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills for Young Adults (PEERS®-YA-K) With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Pilot Study. Front Psychiatry. 2021; 12:730448. Oh M, Laugeson E, Kim JH, Lee K, Kim J, Lee S, Lim B, Cha S, Bong G, Yoon NH, Bahn GH, Yoo HJ. PMID: 34690837; PMCID: PMC8526555.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 5  
  17. Long-Term Treatment Outcomes of PEERS® for Preschoolers: A Parent-Mediated Social Skills Training Program for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord. 2022 Jun; 52(6):2610-2626. Tripathi I, Estabillo JA, Moody CT, Laugeson EA. PMID: 34302574; PMCID: PMC9114088.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 8     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  18. Effectiveness, durability, and clinical correlates of the PEERS social skills intervention in young adults with autism spectrum disorder: the first evidence outside North America. Psychol Med. 2023 02; 53(3):966-976. Chien YL, Tsai WC, Chen WH, Yang CL, Gau SS, Soong WT, Laugeson E, Chiu YN. PMID: 34247667.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 2     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  19. Social Skills Training in Autism Spectrum Disorder Across the Lifespan. Psychiatr Clin North Am. 2020 12; 43(4):687-699. Moody CT, Laugeson EA. PMID: 33127002.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 6     Fields:    
  20. Examining the Treatment Efficacy of PEERS in Japan: Improving Social Skills Among Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord. 2020 Mar; 50(3):976-997. Yamada T, Miura Y, Oi M, Akatsuka N, Tanaka K, Tsukidate N, Yamamoto T, Okuno H, Nakanishi M, Taniike M, Mohri I, Laugeson EA. PMID: 31823217; PMCID: PMC7010628.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 9     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  21. Social Skills Training in Autism Spectrum Disorder Across the Lifespan. Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2020 04; 29(2):359-371. Moody CT, Laugeson EA. PMID: 32169267.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 4     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  22. Treatment of anxiety in older adolescents and young adults with autism spectrum disorders: A pilot study. Bull Menninger Clin. 2020; 84(2):105-136. Ehrenreich-May J, Simpson G, Stewart LM, Kennedy SM, Rowley AN, Beaumont A, Alessandri M, Storch EA, Laugeson EA, Frankel FD, Wood JJ. PMID: 31967511.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  23. Multicentre, randomised waitlist control trial investigating a parent-assisted social skills group programme for adolescents with brain injuries: protocol for the friends project. BMJ Open. 2019 08 27; 9(8):e029587. Gilmore R, Sakzewski L, Ziviani J, Mcintyre S, Smithers Sheedy H, Hilton N, Williams T, Quinn K, Sarandrea AM, Laugeson E, Chatfield M. PMID: 31462477; PMCID: PMC6720336.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    Translation:HumansCTClinical Trials
  24. Distinct Patterns of Neural Habituation and Generalization in Children and Adolescents With Autism With Low and High Sensory Overresponsivity. Am J Psychiatry. 2019 12 01; 176(12):1010-1020. Green SA, Hernandez L, Lawrence KE, Liu J, Tsang T, Yeargin J, Cummings K, Laugeson E, Dapretto M, Bookheimer SY. PMID: 31230465; PMCID: PMC6889004.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 29     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  25. Learning How to Make Friends for Chinese Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Hong Kong Chinese Version of the PEERS® Intervention. J Autism Dev Disord. 2019 Feb; 49(2):527-541. Shum KK, Cho WK, Lam LMO, Laugeson EA, Wong WS, Law LSK. PMID: 30143950.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 18     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  26. A randomized controlled trial evaluating the Hebrew adaptation of the PEERS® intervention: Behavioral and questionnaire-based outcomes. Autism Res. 2018 08; 11(8):1187-1200. Rabin SJ, Israel-Yaacov S, Laugeson EA, Mor-Snir I, Golan O. PMID: 30095232.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 18     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  27. Disruptive behaviour may hinder the acquisition of daily living skills for youth with autism spectrum disorder. Evid Based Ment Health. 2017 02; 20(1):e2. Laugeson EA. PMID: 28087560; PMCID: PMC10688428.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
  28. A Randomized Controlled Trial to Improve Social Skills in Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder: The UCLA PEERS(®) Program. J Autism Dev Disord. 2015 Dec; 45(12):3978-89. Laugeson EA, Gantman A, Kapp SK, Orenski K, Ellingsen R. PMID: 26109247.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 54     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  29. Emotion Dysregulation and Anxiety in Adults with ASD: Does Social Motivation Play a Role? J Autism Dev Disord. 2015 Dec; 45(12):3971-7. Swain D, Scarpa A, White S, Laugeson E. PMID: 26319254.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 36     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  30. Atypical Visual Saliency in Autism Spectrum Disorder Quantified through Model-Based Eye Tracking. Neuron. 2015 Nov 04; 88(3):604-16. Wang S, Jiang M, Duchesne XM, Laugeson EA, Kennedy DP, Adolphs R, Zhao Q. PMID: 26593094; PMCID: PMC4662072.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 110     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  31. The ABC's of teaching social skills to adolescents with autism spectrum disorder in the classroom: the UCLA PEERS (®) Program. J Autism Dev Disord. 2014 Sep; 44(9):2244-56. Laugeson EA, Ellingsen R, Sanderson J, Tucci L, Bates S. PMID: 24715256.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 27     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  32. Cognitive behavioral therapy for early adolescents with autism spectrum disorders and clinical anxiety: a randomized, controlled trial. Behav Ther. 2015 Jan; 46(1):7-19. Wood JJ, Ehrenreich-May J, Alessandri M, Fujii C, Renno P, Laugeson E, Piacentini JC, De Nadai AS, Arnold E, Lewin AB, Murphy TK, Storch EA. PMID: 25526831; PMCID: PMC4272761.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 61     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  33. A randomized controlled trial of the Korean version of the PEERS(®) parent-assisted social skills training program for teens with ASD. Autism Res. 2014 Feb; 7(1):145-61. Yoo HJ, Bahn G, Cho IH, Kim EK, Kim JH, Min JW, Lee WH, Seo JS, Jun SS, Bong G, Cho S, Shin MS, Kim BN, Kim JW, Park S, Laugeson EA. PMID: 24408892.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 55     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  34. Predicting treatment success in social skills training for adolescents with autism spectrum disorders: the UCLA Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills. Autism. 2014 May; 18(4):467-70. Chang YC, Laugeson EA, Gantman A, Ellingsen R, Frankel F, Dillon AR. PMID: 24108192.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 10     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  35. Impaired timing and frequency discrimination in high-functioning autism spectrum disorders. J Autism Dev Disord. 2013 Oct; 43(10):2312-28. Bhatara A, Babikian T, Laugeson E, Tachdjian R, Sininger YS. PMID: 23386117.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 24     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  36. Long-term outcomes of parent-assisted social skills intervention for high-functioning children with autism spectrum disorders. Autism. 2014 Apr; 18(3):255-63. Mandelberg J, Frankel F, Cunningham T, Gorospe C, Laugeson EA. PMID: 23996903.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 16     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  37. Review: social skills groups may improve social competence in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. Evid Based Ment Health. 2013 Feb; 16(1):11. Laugeson EA. PMID: 23093693.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    
  38. Evidence-based social skills training for adolescents with autism spectrum disorders: the UCLA PEERS program. J Autism Dev Disord. 2012 Jun; 42(6):1025-36. Laugeson EA, Frankel F, Gantman A, Dillon AR, Mogil C. PMID: 21858588.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 138     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  39. Social skills training for young adults with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders: a randomized controlled pilot study. J Autism Dev Disord. 2012 Jun; 42(6):1094-103. Gantman A, Kapp SK, Orenski K, Laugeson EA. PMID: 21915740.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 76     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  40. Translation of an evidence-based social skills intervention for children with prenatal alcohol exposure in a community mental health setting. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2012 Jan; 36(1):141-52. O'Connor MJ, Laugeson EA, Mogil C, Lowe E, Welch-Torres K, Keil V, Paley B. PMID: 21797888; PMCID: PMC10297624.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 12     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  41. A randomized controlled study of parent-assisted Children's Friendship Training with children having autism spectrum disorders. J Autism Dev Disord. 2010 Jul; 40(7):827-42. Frankel F, Myatt R, Sugar C, Whitham C, Gorospe CM, Laugeson E. PMID: 20058059; PMCID: PMC2890979.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 55     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  42. Autism, emotion recognition and the mirror neuron system: the case of music. Mcgill J Med. 2009 Nov 16; 12(2):87. Molnar-Szakacs I, Wang MJ, Laugeson EA, Overy K, Wu WL, Piggot J. PMID: 21264050; PMCID: PMC2997252.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 10  
  43. Parent-assisted social skills training to improve friendships in teens with autism spectrum disorders. J Autism Dev Disord. 2009 Apr; 39(4):596-606. Laugeson EA, Frankel F, Mogil C, Dillon AR. PMID: 19015968.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 98     Fields:    Translation:HumansCTClinical Trials
  44. A controlled social skills training for children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2006 Aug; 74(4):639-48. O'Connor MJ, Frankel F, Paley B, Schonfeld AM, Carpenter E, Laugeson EA, Marquardt R. PMID: 16881771; PMCID: PMC10246454.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 46     Fields:    Translation:Humans
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