title: Depression in Adolescents with ASD: A Pilot RCT of a Group Intervention.
abstract: Depression is a potentially life threatening affective disorder that is highly prevalent in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary efficacy of a cognitive behavioural intervention for depression in adolescents with ASD. Participants were randomly assigned to the intervention group, or wait-list control group. Although recruitment was extremely difficult, attendance was favourable and attrition was low, and participants reported being satisfied with the programme. No significant treatment effect was revealed on the Beck Depression Inventory or Emotion Regulation Questionnaire. However despite the small sample size (n = 20), there was a trending treatment effect measured by the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale: Depression Subscale. Limitations and areas of future research are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Locked Bag 500, Archerfield, Brisbane, QLD, 4108, Australia. d.santomauro@uq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Damian
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Santomauro
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, McElwain Building, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia. jeanie@psy.uq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Jeanie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sheffield
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, McElwain Building, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia. kate@psy.uq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sofronoff
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy*; D003071:Cognition; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy*; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D056345:Theory of Mind; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Adolescents; Autism spectrum disorders; Cognitive behaviour therapy; Depression