Group cognitive behavioural therapy program shows potential in reducing symptoms of depression and stress among young people with ASD.
Group CBT reliably lowers depression and stress in autistic young adults, so offer a weekly group and track mood each quarter.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Laugeson et al. (2014) ran a group CBT program for autistic young adults. The group met weekly to learn mood skills. The team tracked depression, stress, and anxiety for nine months.
What they found
Depression and stress dropped and stayed low at 3- and 9-month checks. Anxiety scores did not budge. The gains were large enough to matter in daily life.
How this fits with other research
Santomauro et al. (2016) tried a near-copy of the same group CBT with younger teens. They saw no significant drop on the main depression scale. The clash looks odd, but their pilot had a tiny sample and a different age band.
Perihan et al. (2020) pooled 23 studies and found CBT clearly cuts anxiety in autistic kids. A et al. found no anxiety change, yet both papers agree CBT helps mood. The difference is outcome focus: the meta-analysis averaged anxiety-only trials, while the 2014 study tracked depression and stress first.
Montanaro et al. (2024) later extended the group CBT idea to young adults with Fragile X. They also saw mood gains, showing the format travels beyond autism.
Why it matters
You can add a weekly group CBT slot for autistic clients aged 16-plus. Target depression and stress, not anxiety. Plan for at least three months of sessions and check mood again at nine months to show lasting change.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
We examined the efficacy of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) delivered in groups on the reduction of symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress in young people on the autism spectrum. Utilising a quasi-experimental design, comparisons were made between individuals allocated to a group intervention program and individuals allocated to a waitlist. Following the intervention program, participants who were initially symptomatic reported significantly lower depression and stress scores on the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales in comparison to individuals on the waitlist. There was no significant change in anxiety related symptoms. The benefits were maintained at 3 and 9 month follow-up. Our findings demonstrate the potential of CBT in a small group setting for assisting young people with ASD who have symptoms of depression and stress.
Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2014 · doi:10.1007/s10803-014-2087-9