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Parent group for teens with autism and anxiety or depression

Tests a parent group for teens with autism and anxiety or depression.

Key facts

Who runs it
Sahlgrenska University Hospital
Where
Gothenburg, SwedenSee the site
Trial code
Registry title
Feasibility Study of UP-A-AST Parent Group for Adolescents With Autism and Co-occurring Anxiety/Depression
Status
Recruiting
People taking part
72 people, planned
Started
5 Jan 2026
Expected to end
30 Mar 2027
Type of study
Interventional
Treatments tested
  • Unified Protocol-Adolescent Autism Parent Group (UP-A-AST)
Record updated
10 June 2026

Who can take part

AI summary

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 parents of adolescents aged 12-17 years who have autism and anxiety and/or depression, to test a parent group programme.

Age
Adolescents aged 12-17 years
Sex
All sexes can join.
Disease stage
Clinical diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (DSM-IV, DSM-5 or ICD-10) and a current anxiety disorder and/or depressive disorder (DSM-5).
Earlier treatment
Ongoing contact with a Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (BUP) outpatient clinic. Stable psychopharmacological treatment, if used. Parents have done an autism psychoeducational programme in child and adolescent psychiatric services, or the clinician judges they have equivalent knowledge.

Main reasons for not taking part

  • Severe psychiatric disorder such as psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder or severe eating disorder
  • High suicide risk or suicide attempt within the past 12 months
  • Severe self-injurious behavior
  • Intellectual disability according to DSM-5
  • Parents cannot attend all group sessions, cannot do the home practice, or need an interpreter

The registry criteria, word for word

Show all 13 criteriaShow less

Who can take part

  • Adolescents aged 12-17 years
  • Clinical diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) according to DSM-IV, DSM-5, or ICD-10
  • Current diagnosis of anxiety disorder and/or depressive disorder according to DSM-5
  • Ongoing contact with a Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (BUP) outpatient clinic
  • Stable psychopharmacological treatment at the time of inclusion (if applicable)
  • Parents has participated in a psychoeducational program on autism within child and adolescent psychiatric services, or is assessed by the clinician to have equivalent knowledge

Who cannot take part

  • Presence of a severe psychiatric disorder, such as psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder, or severe eating disorder
  • The adolescent is primarily in need of basic interventions for autism spectrum disorder
  • High suicide risk or suicide attempt within the past 12 months
  • Severe self-injurious behavior
  • Intellectual disability according to DSM-5
  • Parents are unable to attend all group sessions and/or lack the ability to engage in assigned home practice
  • Need for an interpreter

Where in Sweden

  • BUP- Specialmottagning, Sahlgrenska University HospitalGothenburg, SwedenContact: Karin Melin, PhDTaking people

About the trial

What the trial wants to find out

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with high rates of psychiatric comorbidity, particularly anxiety and depressive disorders, which contribute to significant impairment for affected youth and their families. Although cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is recommended as a first-line treatment for anxiety and depression in children and adolescents, there is a lack of evidence-based interventions specifically adapted for youth with ASD and co-occurring emotional disorders.

Read full original descriptionShow less

The Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders in Children and Adolescents (UP-C/UP-A) is a CBT-based intervention targeting shared mechanisms underlying anxiety and depression. A parent-mediated adaptation, the Unified Protocol-Adolescent Autism Parent Group (UP-A-AST), has been developed to address the specific needs of adolescents with ASD and co-occurring anxiety and/or depressive disorders. Preliminary quality improvement work has shown promising results.

This study aims to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of the UP-A-AST Parent Group in a child and adolescent outpatient psychiatric setting. The study will include parents of adolescents aged 12-17 years with ASD and co-occurring anxiety and/or depressive disorders. Outcomes include changes in adolescents' psychiatric symptoms and functional impairment, as well as parents' perceived parenting competence. Additionally, parents' experiences of participating in the intervention will be explored.

The group in the trial

  • UP-A-AST Parent GroupTreatment being tested

    Participants receive the Unified Protocol-Adolescent Autism Parent Group (UP-A-AST), a parent-mediated, group-based cognitive behavioral intervention adapted for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder and co-occurring anxiety and/or depressive disorders. The intervention is delivered to parents in a group format and focuses on enhancing understanding of emotional difficulties and providing strategies to support adolescents' emotion regulation and functioning

    Treatment: Unified Protocol-Adolescent Autism Parent Group (UP-A-AST)

Questions to ask the study team

  1. How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
  2. Are travel costs paid?
  3. Can I keep my own doctor?
  4. What happens if I want to stop?

Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations

Print a page for my doctor

Data and sources

Registry record
Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Official title
Unified Protocol-Adolescent Autism Parent Group (UP-A-AST) for Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Co-occurring Anxiety and/or Depressive Disorders: A Feasibility Study
Plain-language title
Parent group for teens with autism and anxiety or depressionGenerated from the registry record. The registry title is the official one.
AI summary
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Read by machine on 13 November 2026.
Record updated
10 June 2026