A Toolkit to Improve Mental Health Treatment for Autistic Individuals
Purpose
This pilot study is funded by the Organization for Autism Research (OAR). We are conducting a pilot study to improve mental health treatment for autistic individuals. First, we will conduct remote focus groups to identify barriers to mental health treatment and methods to improve treatment. Based on results, we will develop a prototype of a resource for therapists. This resource will be pilot tested in a community clinic.
Conditions
- Autism
- Mental Health Conditions
Eligibility
- Eligible Ages
- Over 13 Years
- Eligible Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria
for clients: - A confirmed diagnosis of autism - Between 13 and 17 years old - Fluent in English - Have a co-occurring mental health condition that is appropriate for treatment at the community clinic participating in the proposed study
Exclusion Criteria
N/A All therapists working at the community clinic at which this study takes place will be eligible to participate.
Study Design
- Phase
- N/A
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel Assignment
- Primary Purpose
- Treatment
- Masking
- Single (Participant)
- Masking Description
- In the clinical trial, the 12 autistic clients will be masked to their and their their therapist's condition. The 6 therapists will know whether they are randomized to the intervention or treatment as usual (TAU) group.
Arm Groups
| Arm | Description | Assigned Intervention |
|---|---|---|
|
Active Comparator Treatment as usual |
Clients will continue to receive psychotherapy |
|
|
Experimental Enhanced Psychotherapy |
Clients will receive psychotherapy from therapists who have access to a toolkit that reviews ways to adapt evidence-based interventions for autistic clients. |
|
Recruiting Locations
Miami, Florida 33199
More Details
- Status
- Recruiting
- Sponsor
- Florida International University
Detailed Description
Research Design: During Phase I of the study, the investigators propose to conduct remote focus groups with autistic individuals (n=15) and with licensed therapists (n=15) in order to identify barriers to mental health treatment for autistic individuals, as well as ways to improve mental health treatment. Based on this information, the study team will develop a prototype of a therapist-facing toolkit that will include strategies for adapting evidence-based treatments when working with autistic individuals. In Phase II of the study, 6 therapists treating autistic clients (n=12) in a community clinic will be randomized to continue treatment as usual or to receive access to the toolkit. Study investigators will collect pilot data to explore whether the toolkit (1) improves therapist knowledge of autism and confidence treating mental health conditions in autistic people, (2) is acceptable to therapists, and (3) improves the acceptability and efficacy of mental health care for autistic adolescents.