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Completed

NCT Number: NCT06361147

Psychoeducation for Adult Siblings of ASD People (Autism Spectrum Disorder).

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a novel psychoeducational program for adult siblings of autistic individuals, aiming to improve autism-related knowledge, well-being, resilience and sibling relationship outcomes, while also highlighting the need for tailored supportive interventions for this population.

The psychoeducational program will be implemented in adult siblings of people with ASD and its effectiveness will be assessed.

We expect that after the intervention, participants in the intervention group will demonstrate improvements in the study outcomes compared with participants in the control group, and that some of these improvements will be maintained at the three-month follow-up. We further expect that the participants' level of caregiving involvement with their autistic sibling will be associated with the effectiveness of the intervention. No risk is identified.

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Key information

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder Autistic Disorder Child Development Disorders, Pervasive Mental Disorders Neurodevelopmental Disorders Sibling Relations

Age range

18 year–70 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Hellenic Mediterranean University

Heraklion, Crete, 82102, Greece

About this study

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental lifelong disorder of which prevalence has been significantly increased through the decades.

As a result, the rise in autism prevalence has been accompanied by a parallel increase in the number of individuals who have autistic siblings, a group estimated to number in the millions.

Although supportive interventions have demonstrated benefits for family members, existing research has primarily focused on autistic individuals and their parents. Consequently, evidence regarding interventions specifically designed for adult siblings remains limited.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a novel psychoeducational program for adult siblings of autistic individuals, aiming to improve autism-related knowledge, well-being, resilience and sibling relationship outcomes, while also highlighting the need for tailored supportive interventions for this population. The psychoeducational program aims to enhance understanding of autism, encourage emotional expression and a sense of belonging, improve family and sibling communication, and provide practical strategies for everyday challenges.

A parallel-group randomized controlled trial with assessments at baseline, post-intervention and three-month follow-up will be conducted among adult siblings of autistic individuals across Greece (voluntary participation). Participants will be randomly allocated (1:1) to the intervention or control group. The intervention comprise six free-of-charge online psychoeducational sessions and one follow-up session and will be delivered by two social workers certified in autism psychoeducation, whereas the control group will complete questionnaires only.

We expect that after the intervention, participants in the intervention group will demonstrate improvements in the study outcomes compared with participants in the control group, and that some of these improvements will be maintained at the three-month follow-up. We further expect that the participants' level of caregiving involvement with their autistic sibling will be associated with the effectiveness of the intervention. No risk is identified.

This study is part of a doctoral thesis in progress at the Hellenic Mediterranean University (HELMEPA), Department of Social Work.

The study is expected to start in April 2024 and to be completed about six months later.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

were: (i) age 18 or older, (ii) having one sibling with a clinical diagnosis of ASD, (iii) no self-reported neurodevelopmental diagnosis, (iv) no prior participation in a psychoeducational program for autism and v) able to understand and communicate in Greek.

Exclusion criteria

were: (i) having more than one sibling diagnosed with ASD, and (ii) residing outside Greece.

Participants were also required to have access to the internet and a device capable of participating in the online audiovisual sessions.

Treatment and study plan

Psychoeducational program for ASD

Other

6 psychoeducational sessions and one follow-up session for Autism Spectrum Disorder

Primary outcomes

  1. Psychoeducation effectiveness on the knowledge of ASD

    Time frame: 6 months

    The evaluation of psychoeducational program effect on knowledge of ASD is going to be evaluated throw the "Participatory Autism Knowledge Scale" questionnaire (29-item scale) will be used. The original validation studies demonstrated satisfactory psychometric properties, showing good internal consistency. The standardization and adaptation of the questionnaire into Greek has not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal.

  2. Psychoeducation effectiveness on siblings relationship

    Time frame: 6 months

    A newly developed research measure, designed specifically for this study to assess negative emotions and attitudes of adult siblings toward their autistic sibling. The questionnaire's name is "Adult Sibling Relationships and Autism Spectrum Questionnaire (ASRQ-AS) " - 31-item scale. The standardization and adaptation of the questionnaire into Greek has not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal.

  3. Psychoeducation effectiveness on resilience of siblings of ASD

    Time frame: 6 months

    The Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) was developed to assess an individual's ability to recover from stress and adversity. It can also be used to examine factors and outcomes associated with resilience in both mental and physical health, identifying individuals who may benefit from supportive or therapeutic interventions. The internal consistency (Cronbach's α) of the BRS demonstrates good reliability as well as in Greek version.

  4. Psychoeducation effectiveness on the well-being of siblings of ASD

    Time frame: 6 months

    The evaluation of psychoeducational program effect on the well-being is going to be evaluated throw the questionnaire "PERMA-Profiler" (23-item scale). The scale has demonstrated adequate reliability and validity in assessing well-being - Cronbach's α values.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Hellenic Mediterranean University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Effect of Psychoeducation on Adult Siblings of People With Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2024
First posted
Apr 11, 2024
Registry last updated
Sep 9, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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