Individual research recommendation details

Recommendation ID

CG142/1

Question

What is the clinical and cost effectiveness of facilitated self-help for the treatment of mild anxiety and depressive disorders in autistic adults?

Any explanatory notes
(if applicable)

Anxiety and depressive disorders commonly coexist in autistic people and are associated with poorer health outcomes and quality of life. This may occur because of the direct impact of the anxiety or depression but also because of a negative interaction with the core features of autism. There is limited access and poor uptake of facilitated self-help by autistic people, largely due to limited availability but also because current systems for the delivery of such interventions are not adapted for use by autistic people. In adults without autism, facilitated self-help is an effective intervention for mild to moderate depression and anxiety. The development of novel methods for the delivery of facilitated self-help could make effective interventions available to a wider group of people.

The suggested programme of research would need to: (a) develop current methods for the delivery of self-help measures to take into account the impact of autism and possibly include developments in the nature of the materials, the methods for their delivery and the nature, duration and extent of their facilitation; (b) test the feasibility of the novel methods in a series of pilot studies; and (c) formally evaluate the outcomes (including symptoms, satisfaction and quality of life) in a large-scale randomised trial.

Source guidance details

Comes from guidance

Autism spectrum disorder in adults: diagnosis and management

Number

CG142

Date issued

June 2012

Other details