An online therapy program for autistic adults with psychological distress
Tests a guided internet-based treatment in autistic adults experiencing psychological distress.
Key facts
- Who runs it
- Region Örebro County
- Where
- Örebro, SwedenSee the site
- Trial code
- Registry title
- Tailored and Transdiagnostic Internetbased Intervention for Autistic Adults
- Status
- Not yet recruiting
- People taking part
- 25 people, planned
- Starts
- 1 Apr 2027
- Expected to end
- 30 Aug 2028
- Type of study
- Interventional
- Treatments tested
- Tailored And Transdiagnostic Internetbased intervention for Autistic adults
- Record updated
- 25 September 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 adults with an autism diagnosis and no intellectual disability who have some psychological distress linked to their autism. They take part in an internet-based treatment with a therapist's support.
- Age
- Adults over 18 years (minimum age 18 years).
- Sex
- All sexes can join.
- Disease stage
- Autism diagnosis without intellectual disability, with some difficulty or psychological distress related to the autism diagnosis.
- Earlier treatment
- People with ongoing psychological treatment cannot join.
Main reasons for not taking part
- Intellectual disability
- Severe anxiety
- Severe depression
- Psychosis
- Suicidal behavior or suicide risk
The registry criteria, word for word
Show all 2 criteriaShow less
Who can take part
- adults (>18 years) with a diagnosis of autism without intellectual disability who experience some form of difficulty or psychological distress related to their autism diagnosis
Who cannot take part
- intellectual disability, severe anxiety, severe depression, psychosis, suicidal behavior, suicide risk, or ongoing psychological treatment
Where in Sweden
- Vuxenhabiliteringen, Region Örebro LänÖrebro, SwedenContact: Britta Westerberg, Med. drNo longer taking part
About the trial
What the trial wants to find out
The number of individuals receiving an autism diagnosis is increasing, particularly among individuals without co-occurring intellectual disability. This group does not always present with stereotypically autistic characteristics. Instead, the cognitive mechanisms underlying autistic functioning often manifest in less apparent difficulties, such as difficulties with self-acceptance, low self-esteem, stress-related problems, low energy, or anxiety. At the same time, this group is highly heterogeneous in terms of abilities and difficulties, and consequently, their needs also vary.
Read full original descriptionShow less
Over the past decades, it has become increasingly evident that autistic adults have substantial needs for support for psychological distress, while healthcare services have difficulties meeting these needs. This is likely due to a combination of limited resources and a lack of adapted and accessible interventions.
Providing psychological treatment via the internet may be one way of increasing access to healthcare for this population. Internet-based interventions have been shown to be effective in treating mental health problems in other patient populations, and the internet-based format may be well suited to the needs and preferences commonly reported by autistic individuals.
Within this project, we are developing an internet-based treatment for autistic adults aimed at increasing individuals' understanding of themselves and their difficulties, as well as improving self-esteem and self-acceptance. In the longer term, we hope that the treatment may also contribute to improved quality of life and sense of coherence, as well as reduced levels of anxiety and depression.
The treatment is intended for autistic adults experiencing some form of psychological distress. It consists of text-based modules, and participants complete exercises with the support of an individual therapist who guides them through the treatment. If the treatment proves to be effective, our hope is that it can be implemented within Swedish habilitation services as an alternative to face-to-face psychological treatment.
The group in the trial
- Participants receiving the interventionTreatment being tested
The participants participates in an 18 week internet based, individually tailored and transdiagnostic intervention aiming to enhance self-understanding and self-acceptance.
Treatment: Tailored And Transdiagnostic Internetbased intervention for Autistic adults
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 doctorData and sources
- Registry record
- Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
- Official title
- Tailored and Transdiagnostic Internetbased Intervention for Autistic Adults
- Plain-language title
- An online therapy program for autistic adults with psychological distressGenerated from the registry record. The registry title is the official one.
- AI summary
- From the trial's eligibility criteria. Read by machine on 12 November 2026.
- Record updated
- 25 September 2026