Outcomes of Emotion Regulation Therapy in Young Autistic Adults

Michal Assaf

Status

Enrolling

Conditions

Autism

Treatments

Behavioral: Emotion Regulation Intervention

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT05341505

R-HHC-2017-0161

Details and patient eligibility

About

This pilot study is designed to investigate the clinical outcomes and neural mechanisms of emotion regulation behavioral treatment , in a small sample of young adults diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.

Full description

Five young adults with ASD with emotional/behavioral challenges that are attributed to emotion dysregulation will be enrolled into an emotion regulation (ER) intervention administered twice weekly for a total of 16 sessions. Participants will be evaluated pre- and post-treatment using behavioral and imaging measures, and at mid-treatment and 2-month follow-up using behavioral measures administered electronically and/or via phone interview.

Enrollment

5 estimated patients

Sex

All

Ages

18 to 40 years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder
Ages 18-40
Estimated full-scale IQ ≥ 80
T score > 60 on either the externalizing or internalizing symptoms scores of either the Adult Behavior Checklist (ABC-L) or the Adult Self Report (ASR)
Participation in previous study at the Olin Center ("Social Emotional Study"; E-HHC- 2018-0241)

Exclusion criteria

Intellectual disability (estimated full scale IQ<80
History of a significant head injury (severe concussion, hospitalization)
History of neurosurgery
History of epilepsy, stroke, MS, a neurodegenerative disorder, or any other neurological disorder
A current major medical condition (e.g. cancer, heart failure)
Current substance use (determined by urine screen done to all participants before each MRI scan)
In-body metal implants (e.g. surgical clips, certain pacemakers) or history of exposure to metal shards or other MRI contraindications
Pregnancy