Psychoeducation program for older adults with autism
Tests autism training for care staff and an education course for older adults with autism.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Psychoeducation for Older Adults With Autism
Key facts
- Where
- 's-Hertogenbosch, Apeldoorn, Deventer, Eindhoven, Enschede, Halsteren, Heerlen, Hoorn, Tilburg, and Venray, NetherlandsSee the 11 sites
AI summary: who the study is looking for
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.
The trial is looking for adults aged 55 or older who have been diagnosed with autism, or who received a probability diagnosis of autism. It tests a psychoeducation course.
- Age
- 55 years or older
- Sex
- All sexes can join
- Disease stage
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosed, or a probability diagnosis, by a multidisciplinary team
Main reasons for not taking part
- Another mental disorder that needs acute treatment and strongly disturbs group treatment, for example psychosis
- A major neurocognitive disorder, for example dementia or acquired brain injury
- A substance abuse disorder that needs detoxification
- An IQ below 70
Read by machine on 12 November 2026.
Where in Netherlands
- Reinier van Arkel's-Hertogenbosch, NetherlandsContact: Arjan Videler, Dr.No longer taking part
- GGNet Ouderen (Elderly)Apeldoorn, NetherlandsContact: Arjan Videler, Dr.No longer taking part
- DimenceDeventer, NetherlandsContact: Silvia Filart-HeuvenTaking people
- GGzE NestorEindhoven, NetherlandsContact: Arjan Videler, Dr.No longer taking part
- SeneVita GGZEindhoven, NetherlandsContact: Arjan Videler, Dr.No longer taking part
- GGz MediantEnschede, NetherlandsContact: Arjan Videler, Dr.No longer taking part
- GGz WNB Ouderen (Elderly)Halsteren, NetherlandsContact: Arjan Videler, Dr.No longer taking part
- Mondriaan Ouderen (Elderly)Heerlen, NetherlandsContact: Arjan Videler, Dr.No longer taking part
- GGz NHN FrailtyHoorn, NetherlandsContact: Arjan Videler, Dr.No longer taking part
- GGz Breburg PersonaCuraTilburg, NetherlandsContact: A. (Arjan) C. Videler, Dr.Taking people
- Vincent van Gogh Ouderen (Elderly)Venray, NetherlandsContact: Arjan Videler, Dr.No longer taking part
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations
Print a page for my doctorTrial details
- Who runs it
- Tilburg University
- Trial code
- NCT06127472
- Record updated
- 18 May 2026
- Original description
Until recently, autism in older adults went unrecognised. Although there has been more attention to autism in older adults in recent years, there is still a lot of unfamiliarity with the phenomenon and underdiagnosis in (mental) health care. Many care providers are reluctant to diagnose autism in later life, due to a lack of knowledge about autism in older adults and because there is still very little scientific knowledge available for this target group. Although several multidisciplinary guidelines for autism in adults prescribe that after the diagnosis psycho-education is the first step in treatment, psycho-education is still only offered in a few places in the Netherlands. Psycho-education is important to help older people gain knowledge about their autism, to help them understand and accept this diagnosis, in order to subsequently make the treatment of the problems, with which they turn to the mental health care, more appropriate and effective.Read full original descriptionShow less
Support With Psychoeducation for Older Adults With Autism Study
Until recently, autism in older adults went unrecognised. Although there has been more attention to autism in older adults in recent years, there is still a lot of unfamiliarity with the phenomenon and underdiagnosis in (mental) health care. Many care providers are reluctant to diagnose autism in later life, due to a lack of knowledge about autism in older adults and because there is still very little scientific knowledge available for this target group. Although several multidisciplinary guidelines for autism in adults prescribe that after the diagnosis psycho-education is the first step in treatment, psycho-education is still only offered in a few places in the Netherlands. Psycho-education is important to help older people gain knowledge about their autism, to help them understand and accept this diagnosis, in order to subsequently make the treatment of the problems, with which they turn to the mental health care, more appropriate and effective.
The aim of this study is to contribute to better recognition and diagnosis of autism among older adults. This research also aims to improve a psycho-education program for older adults and investigate its effects.
The scientific research question is whether training in ASD for health care professionals results in better recognition and detection of ASD in older adults, and whether participation in the psycho-education course for older adults, who have been diagnosed with autism, or have received a probability diagnosis ASD, contributes to improvement of mental health and quality of life.
Inclusion: minimum of 55 years old; diagnosed with ASD or a probability diagnosis by a multidisciplinary team according to the Dutch multidisciplinary guideline, as confirmed by the DSM-5 interview for ASD (Spek, n.d.), or the Netherlands Interview for Diagnosis of ASD in adults (NIDA; Vuijk, 2023).
Exclusion: comorbid mental disorder that needs acute treatment and severely interferes with a group treatment (for example psychosis),; a major neurocognitive disorder (for example dementia or acquired brain injury),; substance abuse disorder, that requires detoxification, and/or; an IQ below 70.