ERIC Number: EJ1382533
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2023-Jul
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1362-3613
EISSN: EISSN-1461-7005
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Autistic Adults: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study in a Psychiatric Outpatient Setting
Pahnke, Johan; Jansson-Fröjmark, Markus; Andersson, Gerhard; Bjureberg, Johan; Jokinen, Jussi; Bohman, Benjamin; Lundgren, Tobias
Autism: The International Journal of Research and Practice, v27 n5 p1461-1476 Jul 2023
Autistic adults are at risk of stress-related psychiatric disorders and reduced life quality due to social, cognitive, and perceptual challenges. Mental health interventions adapted to autistic adults are scarce. Acceptance and commitment therapy has preliminarily indicated health benefits in autistic adults, although it has not been robustly evaluated. Overall, 39 adults (21 males; 21-72 years) with autism spectrum disorder and normal intellectual ability (IQ M = 108.5; SD = 13.5) were randomized to 14 weeks of adapted acceptance and commitment therapy group treatment (NeuroACT) or treatment as usual. The intervention was feasible. Perceived stress and quality of life (primary outcomes), alongside psychological inflexibility, cognitive fusion, cognitive and behavioral avoidance, and autistic mannerism were statistically significantly improved in NeuroACT compared with treatment as usual (d = 0.70-0.90). Clinically significant changes in perceived stress and quality of life were in favor of NeuroACT. Between-group altered depression, anxiety, sleep problems, one quality of life measure, functional impairment, social aspects of autism, and executive difficulties were statistically non-significant. Dropout was slightly higher in NeuroACT. NeuroACT may be a promising treatment for autistic adults with co-existing stress and reduced quality of life. More extensive studies are warranted to evaluate NeuroACT further.
Descriptors: Adults, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Clinics, Psychiatry, Therapy, Mental Disorders, At Risk Persons, Mental Health, Intervention, Counseling Effectiveness, Stress Management, Quality of Life, Symptoms (Individual Disorders), Depression (Psychology), Anxiety, Sleep, Interpersonal Relationship, Executive Function, Life Satisfaction, Foreign Countries
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Sweden
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Satisfaction With Life Scale; Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale; Beck Depression Inventory; Beck Anxiety Inventory
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A