Internet-based Treatment for Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder.

NCT03570372 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 17RS4920
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 84
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The group of patients diagnosed with Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is increasing and so is the need for new and effective treatment methods. ASD is characterized, among other things, by difficulties in social interaction and communication. These difficulties often affects their quality of life and causes a risk of developing social anxiety or other forms of mental illness, which often leads to isolation and may cause difficulties in participating in regular face- to- face psychological treatment. Although research shows that group therapy is favorable for this group of patients, many with ASD refrain from group-treatment due to social anxiety or difficulties with public transport. In order to increase the availability of evidence based psychological treatment for these patients, it seems important to be able to offer a web-based treatment option, with the ability to participate in online group sessions. The aim of the study is to investigate whether Internet-based CBT is an effective method of improving the quality of life and sense of coherence and decreasing symtoms of anxiety and depression among adults with ASD. A randomized controlled study design will be used. Assessment will be conducted through video interviews, recruiting 84 patients with ASD and normal intellectual abilities. Symptoms of depression and other forms of psychopathology will be assessed through MINI-7 interviews. Primary outcome measures are quality of life. Participants in the intervention group receives a 18 week blended treatment combining individual ICBT delivered through a treatment platform called Stöd och Behandling (SOB) with the opportunity to participate in regular group discussions delivered through a discussion forum online. Participants in the control groups are offered self-studies through psycho educative books about ASD. Data will be collected at baseline, mid-treatment, post-treatment and after six and 12 months.

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Keywords

Life quality; ASD; Internet based treatment; Autism; ICBT

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Change in life quality

  Possible interaction effect between group and time in respect of differences in quality of life of the intervention group and the control group between pre, post and follow-up measurement

  Change from Baseline, at 9 weeks, at 18 weeks, at 6 months and at 12 months

• Change in Sense of coherence

  Possible interaction effect between group and time in respect of differences in Sense of coherence of the intervention group and the control group between pre, post and follow-up measurement. Sense of coherence will be measured using SOC-13 questionnaire.

  Change from Baseline, at 18 weeks, at 6 months and at 12 months

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Change in depressive and anxiety symptoms

  Change from Baseline, at 9 weeks, at 18 weeks, at 6 months and at 12 months

• Subjective experience of ICBT

  At 19 weeks

• Content of communication

  At 20 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Intervention group

EXPERIMENTAL

18 week internet-based CBT with therapist support. Regular online group discussions.

Behavioral: Internet-based treatment for adults with autism spectrum

Control group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Reads 2 books about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Behavioral: Psychoeducation about autism spectum disorder

Interventions

Internet-based treatment for adults with autism spectrum BEHAVIORAL

Internet-based CBT. The intervention includes 18 modules focusing on: Psychoeducation, individual goal setting, behavioral change, management strategies and stress management

Intervention group

Psychoeducation about autism spectum disorder BEHAVIORAL

Self-studies by reading the book "What does the disability mean ?: Living with autism / Asperger syndrome. Project Empowerment "(2004), by Norrö \& Swing Åström, as well as a book of biographical stories of people who have ASD. The first book will be read during the first half of the project, and the second will be in the second half.

Control group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 16 Years - 55 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Must have ASD diagnosis
• Must have normal IQ
• Must be able to understand and read swedish

You may not qualify if:

• high risk of suicide
• psychosis
• inability to fill out forms and answer questions on the internet
• inability to read and understand the Swedish language
• ongoing psychotherapy with CBT or social behavior training
• mental development disorder

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Örebro County Council: lead
• Örebro University, Sweden: collaborator
• Regional Research Council Mid Sweden: collaborator
• Fredrik och Ingrid Thurings Stiftelse: collaborator
• Stiftelsen Professor Bror Gadelius Minnesfond: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Region Örebro County

Örebro, Örebro County, 70217, Sweden

Location

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• Westerberg B, Jacobson K, Unenge Hallerback M, Bejerot S, Hollandare F. Communicative Behaviors in an Internet-Based Intervention for Individuals With Autism: Mixed Methods Analysis. J Med Internet Res. 2026 Feb 4;28:e76527. doi: 10.2196/76527.

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MeSH Terms

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder; Autistic Disorder

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Child Development Disorders, Pervasive; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Mental Disorders

Study Officials

• Britta Westerberg

  Region Örebro County

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER GOV
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Doctor of Philosophy

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 29, 2018
• First Posted: June 27, 2018
• Study Start: August 1, 2018
• Primary Completion: May 30, 2020
• Study Completion: May 30, 2020
• Last Updated: April 4, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-04

Locations

SE (1)