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NCT Number: NCT06060860

Comparing Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Versus Mindfulness-Based Therapy for Autistic Adults

Autistic adults are at a greater risk for mental health problems compared to the general population, with 50% meeting criteria for a co-occurring psychiatric condition. Depression and anxiety are the most common of these conditions among autistic adults, contributing to long-term detrimental effects on health, day-to-day functioning, and quality of life. This study will conduct the first large-scale head-to-head comparison of the two most widely studied mental health interventions for autistic adults: cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness-based therapy (MBT). Both interventions are well-established, empirically supported treatments for depression and anxiety in the general population, and both interventions have demonstrated efficacy among autistic adults. However, their comparative effectiveness and heterogeneity of treatment effects have not been established in autistic adults. Both interventions will be delivered by telehealth.

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Key information

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder Anxiety Anxiety Disorders Behavior Behavioral Symptoms Child Development Disorders, Pervasive Depression Mental Disorders Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States

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About this study

This study includes three aims:

Aim 1. Evaluate the effectiveness of two different mental health interventions, CBT versus MBT, to improve patient-centered mental health outcomes, quality of life, well-being, and functional impairment among autistic adults with co-occurring anxiety and/or depressive disorders.

Aim 2. Explore patient characteristics (e.g., expressive language ability, intellectual ability, alexithymia, sensory sensitivity) that may moderate the relationship between CBT or MBT and patient outcomes.

Aim 3. Compare implementation outcomes of acceptability and feasibility of CBT relative to MBT as reported by patients and clinicians using mixed methods.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • ≥18 years of age
  • Co-occurring depression and/or anxiety as determined by a total score ≥10 on the PHQ-ADS
  • Living in North Carolina or Virginia
  • Ability to participate in therapy sessions over telehealth
  • English-speaking
  • Provide proof of a professional diagnosis of autism OR meet or exceed clinical cut-off on the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS-2) autism screening instrument

Exclusion criteria

  • Altered mental status that precludes the ability to provide informed assent or consent (acute psychosis, intoxication, or mania)
  • Imminent risk of suicide

Treatment and study plan

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Behavioral

The UP incorporates common principles among empirically supported CBT protocols, including restructuring maladaptive cognitions, changing maladaptive behaviors, preventing emotion avoidance, and incorporating exposure. It consists of five core treatment modules:

  • emotion awareness,
  • cognitive appraisal & reappraisal,
  • emotion avoidance & emotion-driven behaviors,
  • awareness and tolerance of emotion-related physical sensations, &
  • interoceptive and situational emotion-focused exposures.

There are two introductory modules on enhancing motivation and understanding of emotional experiences. A final module is on maintenance and relapse prevention. Modules are delivered at a flexible pace and some patients may spend multiple sessions on the same module. The total number of sessions varies from patient to patient, generally ranging from 12-18 sessions (50-60 minutes) delivered weekly. All sessions are 1:1 via telehealth.

Other names: CBT

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT)

Behavioral

The study MBCT protocol is a 9-week program (90-120 minute sessions) with home-based practice between sessions. MBCT sessions incorporate formal mindfulness meditation practices such as sitting meditation, mindful movement, and body scan (with a focus on mindful and non-judgmental attention to sensations, thoughts, and feelings), as well as informal practices and homework to integrate mindful awareness into everyday life, such as mindful eating, mindful walking, and mindful breathing. All sessions are 1:1 via telehealth.

Other names: MBCT

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in anxiety and depression symptoms

    Time frame: Baseline, up to 18 weeks

    The Patient Health Questionnaire Anxiety-Depression Scale (PHQ-ADS) is a 16-item composite measure that provides a single composite score for depression and anxiety. It comprises the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire depression scale (PHQ-9) and the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7). PHQ-ADS scores can range from 0 to 48 with higher scores indicating more severe depression/anxiety.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in mental health

    Time frame: Baseline through 6 months of follow-up

    A patient-centered, single-item Participant Global Rating of Change asks participants to rate their depression/anxiety compared to how it was at the beginning of treatment on a 5-point scale (much better, a bit better, no different, a bit worse, or much worse). The score ranges from 1-5, with higher scores indicate improved depression/anxiety.

  2. Change in psychiatric diagnosis

    Time frame: Baseline through 6 months of follow-up

    The Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) is a widely used, structured clinical interview that was developed as a brief (~15 min), yet comprehensive, assessment of the most common psychiatric diagnoses. The MINI identifies if participants meet diagnostic criteria for major psychiatric disorders. It has 16 modules looking at 24 potential current (within the past 2 weeks or past month) and/or previous psychiatric diagnoses. Questions are rated dichotomously (yes/no) and no score is calculated. Change in total number of current psychiatric diagnoses by participant will be tracked.

  3. Change in quality of life

    Time frame: Baseline through 6 months of follow-up

    The Outcome Rating Scale (ORS) is a 4-item visual analog scale assessing functioning in individual, interpersonal, social, and overall functioning over the past week. Item scores range from 0-10, with higher scores indicating better functioning.

  4. Change in well-being

    Time frame: Baseline through 6 months of follow-up

    The Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) is a comprehensive battery of patient-centered measures. The PROMIS Autism Battery - Lifespan (PAB-L), a subset of PROMIS measures, has been validated for the assessment of autistic adults. Items are rated on either a 1 to 7 scale (5 items) or a 1-5 scale (23 items), with total scores ranging from 28 to 150, and higher scores indicating better well-being.

  5. Change in self-acceptance

    Time frame: Baseline through 6 months of follow-up

    The 10-item Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE) assesses overall self-acceptance. Item scores range from 1 to 4, with total scores ranging from 10-40, with higher scores indicating higher self-esteem.

  6. Change in functional impairment

    Time frame: Baseline through 6 months of follow-up

    The brief Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) will be used to assess the extent to which participants' mental health symptoms have disrupted their day-to-day functioning. The SDS is a 3-item discretized visual analog scale assessing functional disability in work/school, social life, and family life/home responsibilities. Scores range from 0-30, with higher scores indicating a higher degree of functional impairment.

  7. Change in disability

    Time frame: Baseline through 6 months of follow-up

    The World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule II (WHODAS II) is a brief, 12-item measure of global disability assessing activity limitations and participation. Scores range 12 to 60, where higher scores indicate higher disability or loss of function.

  8. Potential Negative Effects of Intervention

    Time frame: Up to 6-months follow-up

    The 20-item Negative Effects Questionnaire (NEQ) measures potential negative effects of psychological treatments. Scores can range from 0 to 80, with higher scores indicating more negative effects.

  9. Intervention services satisfaction

    Time frame: Up to 18 weeks

    Participants will complete the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ-8), an 8-item measure of psychotherapy satisfaction. Scores range from 8 to 32, with higher scores indicating higher satisfaction.

  10. Intervention therapist and therapy satisfaction

    Time frame: Up to 18 weeks

    Participants will complete the Survey of Autism Mental Healthcare Satisfaction (SAMHS) to assess specific aspects of mental healthcare important to autistic adults. Scores range from 42-210, with higher scores indicating greater satisfaction.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Laura Klinger, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

(919) 966-8183

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Other

Collaborators

  • Augusta University
  • Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute
  • University of Virginia

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2027
First posted
Sep 29, 2023
Registry last updated
Sep 18, 2025

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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