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Feasibility Study of UP-A-AST Parent Group for Adolescents With Autism and Co-occurring Anxiety/Depression

NCT07637799 · Status: RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 72

Last updated 2026-06-10

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with high rates of psychiatric comorbidity, particularly anxiety and depressive disorders, which contribute to significant impairment for affected youth and their families. Although cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is recommended as a first-line treatment for anxiety and depression in children and adolescents, there is a lack of evidence-based interventions specifically adapted for youth with ASD and co-occurring emotional disorders.

The Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders in Children and Adolescents (UP-C/UP-A) is a CBT-based intervention targeting shared mechanisms underlying anxiety and depression. A parent-mediated adaptation, the Unified Protocol-Adolescent Autism Parent Group (UP-A-AST), has been developed to address the specific needs of adolescents with ASD and co-occurring anxiety and/or depressive disorders. Preliminary quality improvement work has shown promising results.

This study aims to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of the UP-A-AST Parent Group in a child and adolescent outpatient psychiatric setting. The study will include parents of adolescents aged 12-17 years with ASD and co-occurring anxiety and/or depressive disorders. Outcomes include changes in adolescents' psychiatric symptoms and functional impairment, as well as parents' perceived parenting competence. Additionally, parents' experiences of participating in the intervention will be explored.

Conditions

Interventions

OTHER

Unified Protocol-Adolescent Autism Parent Group (UP-A-AST)

The intervention is delivered in a group format to parents and focuses on strengthening parenting skills and promoting the adolescent's mental health and functional outcomes.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Sahlgrenska University Hospital

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Karin Melin, PhD · Sahlgrenska University Hospital

Study Design

Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Model
SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age
12 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2026-01-05
Primary Completion
2026-12-30
Completion
2027-03-30

Countries

  • Sweden

Study Locations

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Entities

Diseases

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07637799 on ClinicalTrials.gov