Evaluation of the Unified Protocol-Adolescent Autism Parent Group for Teens with Autism and Co-occurring Anxiety or Depression

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating a parent-mediated, group-based cognitive behavioral therapy CBT called the Unified Protocol-Adolescent Autism Parent Group UP-A-AST for adolescents aged 12 to 17 years who have autism spectrum disorder ASD along with anxiety andor depressive disorders. The study aims to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of this intervention within a child and adolescent outpatient psychiatric setting. This intervention targets shared emotional difficulties and their impact on youth and families. The intervention involves parents participating in group sessions designed to improve their understanding of their adolescents emotional challenges and to equip them with strategies to support emotion regulation and overall functioning. The UP-A-AST Parent Group is delivered over a 10-week period, with assessments at baseline, completion, and 3 months post-intervention. This study focuses on parents of adolescents receiving outpatient psychiatric care with stable medication regimens if applicable. Participants and their families will be involved through questionnaires and rating scales measuring changes in adolescents anxiety and depression symptoms, functional impairment, and parents perceived parenting competence. Parents also report their experience of participating in the group. Evaluations occur at the start, end of the 10-week intervention, and 3 months afterwards. The total participation spans several months, offering insights into the interventions effects and parent engagement.

Feasibility Study of UP-A-AST Parent Group for Adolescents With Autism and Co-occurring Anxiety/Depression