Talk therapy for depression in autistic teenagers and children, compared with usual care
Compares a talk therapy with usual care for depression in autistic youth.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression in Autistic Youth in Clinical Settings
Key facts
- Where
- Los Angeles, United StatesSee the site
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 11 and 17 years old?
Source: NCT07755137, who can take part
Where in United States
- Children's Hospital Los AngelesLos Angeles, United StatesNo 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?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- Children's Hospital Los Angeles
- Trial code
- NCT07755137
- Record updated
- 10 August 2026
- Original description
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression in Autistic Youth (CBT-DAY) can improve depressive symptoms and related mechanisms in autistic youth aged 11-17 years with depression receiving care in outpatient clinical settings.Read full original descriptionShow less
Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression in Autistic Youth in Clinical Settings
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression in Autistic Youth (CBT-DAY) can improve depressive symptoms and related mechanisms in autistic youth aged 11-17 years with depression receiving care in outpatient clinical settings.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
* Does CBT-DAY lead to greater reductions in depressive symptom severity compared to treatment-as-usual (TAU)? * Does CBT-DAY improve key mechanisms (emotional reactivity, self-esteem, and autism self-knowledge) associated with depression outcomes?
Researchers will compare CBT-DAY versus treatment-as-usual (TAU) to see if CBT-DAY results in greater improvements in depressive symptoms and related outcomes.
Participants will:
* Complete baseline, mid-treatment, post-treatment, and 3-month follow-up assessments (surveys and interviews) * Be randomly assigned to receive either 12 weeks of CBT-DAY or treatment-as-usual * Participate in therapy sessions during the 12-week intervention period * Complete follow-up assessments three months after treatment to evaluate longer-term outcomes
Inclusion: Autistic youth:; Age 11 to 17 years; Prior clinical diagnosis of autism (per record review); At least a fifth grade reading level; An ability to engage in sessions verbally (i.e., full length sentences); Elevated symptoms of depression at baseline (RCADS); Depression is a current clinical concern and participant is appropriate for intervention (per investigator determination); At least one parent/caregiver willing and able to participate; Eligible to receive services at CHLA; If taking psychotropic medication, regimen must be stable for at least 8 weeks prior to baseline; Parents/Caregivers:; Age 18 years or older; Parent or legal guardian of participating youth; Able to provide informed consent; Comfortable reading, writing, or speaking English or Spanish; Willing to participate in study procedures.
Exclusion: Currently receiving psychotherapy for depression; Changes in psychotropic medication regimen during study participation (participants may be withdrawn); Lifetime diagnosis of bipolar disorder, psychotic disorder, or intellectual disability; Autistic youth:; Severe suicidal or homicidal ideation or self-injury requiring immediate higher-level care; A reading level below fifth-grade; An inability to engage in sessions verbally (i.e., nonverbal, minimally verbal); Parents/Caregivers:; Not the parent or legal guardian of the participating youth; Unable to provide informed consent; Not comfortable reading, writing, or speaking English or Spanish; Unwilling to participate in study procedures.