DBT Skills Training Adapted for Autistic Adults With Emotion Regulation Difficulties
Tests an adapted DBT skills course for autistic adults who struggle to manage emotions.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: DBT Skill Training for Autistic Adults With Difficulties in Emotion Regulation.
Key facts
- Where
- Molde, NorwaySee the site
Where in Norway
- Outpatient psychiatric unit - More and Romsdal Health TrustMolde, NorwayTaking people
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?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- Helse Møre og Romsdal HF
- Trial code
- NCT07021274
- Record updated
- 13 October 2026
- Original description
One in 44 has autism, 70% of them have additional mental health challenges. Currently, this patient population does not have access to effective treatment within specialist healthcare services and has struggled to benefit from standard treatments. The goal of this project is to increase access to treatment tailored to their challenges. We will investigate whether a treatment program with an adapted version of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is feasible, accepted, and perceived as useful for people with autism. The purpose of the treatment is to improve emotion regulation, function better in relationships, and avoid crises, thereby enhancing their ability to achieve personal goals, reduce suffering, and increase quality of life. Autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder, presenting with great variation and more widespread than previously thought. Difficulties with emotion regulation are a central challenge for many with autism. These difficulties often manifest as an inability to recognize, understand, and manage emotional responses, leading to destructive strategies, behaviors, and suffering. DBT is developed with a focus on emotion regulation and has shown good effects in other patient populations. The project can increase access to treatment for a patient population that currently stands without.Read full original descriptionShow less
DBT Skill Training for Autistic Adults With Difficulties in Emotion Regulation: a Feasibility Study.
One in 44 has autism, 70% of them have additional mental health challenges. Currently, this patient population does not have access to effective treatment within specialist healthcare services and has struggled to benefit from standard treatments. The goal of this project is to increase access to treatment tailored to their challenges. We will investigate whether a treatment program with an adapted version of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is feasible, accepted, and perceived as useful for people with autism. The purpose of the treatment is to improve emotion regulation, function better in relationships, and avoid crises, thereby enhancing their ability to achieve personal goals, reduce suffering, and increase quality of life. Autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder, presenting with great variation and more widespread than previously thought. Difficulties with emotion regulation are a central challenge for many with autism. These difficulties often manifest as an inability to recognize, understand, and manage emotional responses, leading to destructive strategies, behaviors, and suffering. DBT is developed with a focus on emotion regulation and has shown good effects in other patient populations. The project can increase access to treatment for a patient population that currently stands without.
Inclusion: Fit general inclusion criteria for the out- patient treatment at the clinic; Have diagnosed autism, and pervasive difficulties in emotion regulation; Speak Scandinavian (Norwegian, Danish and/or Swedish); Manage to commit to participating in the DBT- skills training; Be willing to sign the written informed consent.
Exclusion: Have a clinically significant low linguistic functioning that hinders the patient in understanding and answering the questions on the self-report instruments; Being actively psychotic; Have a Body Mass Index (BMI) under 17; Cognitive disability Intelliganve quotient (IQ) <85.