Abstract
BackgroundAdults with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have difficulties in social communication; thus, these individuals have trouble understanding the mental states of others. Recent research also suggests that adults with ASD are unable to understand their own mental states, which could lead to difficulties in emotion-regulation. Some studies have reported the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) in improving emotion-regulation among children with ASD. The current study will investigate the efficacy of group-based CBT for adults with ASD.Methods/DesignThe study is a randomized, waitlist controlled, single-blinded trial. The participants will be 60 adults with ASD; 30 will be assigned to a CBT group and 30 to a waitlist control group. Primary outcome measures are the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale, the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations, the Motion Picture Mind-Reading task, and an ASD questionnaire. The secondary outcome measures are the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale 26-item version, the Global Assessment of Functioning, State-trait Anxiety Inventory, Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory, and Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale. All will be administered during the pre- and post-intervention, and 12 week follow-up periods. The CBT group will receive group therapy over an 8 week period (one session per week) with each session lasting approximately 100 minutes. Group therapy will consist of four or five adults with ASD and two psychologists. We will be using visual materials for this program, mainly the Cognitive Affective Training kit.DiscussionThis trial will hopefully indicate the efficacy of group-based CBT for adults with high- functioning ASD.Trial registrationThis trial was registered in The University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry No. UMIN000006236.
Highlights
Adults with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have difficulties in social communication; these individuals have trouble understanding the mental states of others
This trial will hopefully indicate the efficacy of group-based cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for adults with high- functioning ASD
The purpose of this study is to investigate the efficacy of group-based CBT for adults with ASD
Summary
Adults with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have difficulties in social communication; these individuals have trouble understanding the mental states of others. Recent research suggests that adults with ASD are unable to understand their own mental states, which could lead to difficulties in emotion-regulation. Even for an adult with high-functioning ASD, whose intellectual development is within the normal range, it is difficult to overcome difficulties in understanding the thoughts and emotions of others; this leads to impairments in interpersonal communication [1,2,3]. Some studies have shown that 50% of ASD adults have alexithymia, which is a personality construct characterized by a sub-clinical inability to identify and describe one’s own emotions [6,7] This inability to identify or express one’s own mental states, coupled with a lack of emotion recognition, makes it even more difficult to establish mutual relationships. Many are diagnosed with ASD in adulthood without noticeable ASD symptoms during childhood [10]
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