DBT Skill Training for Autistic Adults With Difficulties in Emotion Regulation.
Recruiting now · Not applicable
Conditions studied: Difficulties of Emotion Regulation, Self-harm Behavior, Autism Spectrum Disorder
In brief
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.
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT07021274
- Run by
- Helse Møre og Romsdal HF
- People needed
- 15
- Starts
- 2025-08-15
- Expected to finish
- 2027-02-28
- Last updated by the study team
- 2026-06-29
Who can join
Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.
You may qualify if…
- 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.
You may not qualify if…
- 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
Where it is running
- Outpatient psychiatric unit - More and Romsdal Health Trust — Molde, Norway (enrolling)
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
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