Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Recreational Activity for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

Karolinska Institute

Status: Completed

Conditions: Autistic Disorder; Atypical Autism; Asperger Syndrome

Treatments: Behavioral: Cognitive behaviour therapy; Behavioral: Recreational activity intervention

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01655173

Dnr 52-6104

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to determine if adults with autism spectrum disorder and with normal intelligence improve from 36 sessions (1 calendar year) of group treatment with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy or recreational activity in groups with 6-8 participants.

Full description

The purpose of this study was to compare two group interventions for psychiatric patients with Autism spectrum disorder and normal intelligence: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy developed to suit adults with Autism spectrum disorder, and recreational activity, enabling social interaction. The recreational activity intervention served as a low-impact option, easily organised within the community. It is not a placebo; rather it controls for the positive effects that come out of a structured social environment and group setting. The investigators hypothesized that both interventions would lead to improvement in quality of life, well-being and relief in psychiatric symptoms, with a greater effect in the Cognitive Behavioural Therapy intervention compared to recreational activity. A cumulative follow-up was made, within 5 1/2 years after the start of the treatments. Additional questions adapted to the patient group were added at this 5 1/2 year time point.

Enrollment: 68 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Clinical diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders
• Normal intelligence as assumed by mainstream schooling
• Acceptance of a group setting
• Being able to transport themselves to the clinic (with or without support)

Exclusion criteria

• Current substance abuse
• Current psychosis

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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68 participants in 2 patient groups

Cognitive behaviour therapy

Experimental group

Description:

36 weekly sessions (1 calendar year) of Cognitive behaviour therapy in a group setting.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Cognitive behaviour therapy

Recreational activity intervention

Active Comparator group

Description:

36 sessions (1 calendar year) of a group intervention to enable social interaction and to break social isolation.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Recreational activity intervention