ACT guided self help for adults with ASD
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy guided self-help for adults with a diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Disorder experiencing psychological distress.
IRAS ID
245597
Contact name
Dave Dawson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of lincoln
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 7 months, 19 days
Research summary
Individuals with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) experience high levels of psychiatric co-morbidity including stress, anxiety and depression. Intervention to support mental health conditions within this population is an important area of research within this population.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) a psychotherapy comprises of six core processes: (1) being in the present moment (focusing attention, without judgement, on present internal and external experiences); (2) values (identified qualities that are important to the individual);(3) committed action (changes in behaviour in accordance with identified values); (4) self as context (the content of experience, is distinct from the 'self') ,and (5) defusion (a strategy to create emotional distance from language and cognitions) and (6) acceptance (being fully open to your experiences without defense or judgment). ACT research has shown psychological flexibility to have a mediating effect reducing symptomology, both later in the therapy process or at longer term follow-up. To date few studies have been conducted investigating ACT interventions within an adult ASD population. Therefore, this research aims to;
• To examine whether an ACT bibliotherapy intervention for adults with a diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Disorder who experience psychological distress increases psychological flexibility.
• To examine whether psychological flexibility mediates changes in; personally-identified therapeutic goals, increasing psychological well-being and decreasing anxiety, stress and depression.
This research will utilise single case experimental design (SCED). Six to eight participants will be recruited from Nottingham City Asperger's Service (NCAS). Over a period of three months they will complete the bibilotherapy 'Get out of your mind, and into your life' whilst completing psychological flexibility, depression, anxiety and stress (DASS), quality of life measures and a personal questionnaire (rating their behaviour in accordance with values and goals). They will be asked to complete a change questionnaire at the end of the study.
REC name
East Midlands - Leicester Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/EM/0320
Date of REC Opinion
31 Jan 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion