NCT06064422

Adapting BA for Minimally Verbal Autistic Adults

Adaptation of a Behavioral Activation Treatment to Treat Depression in Autistic Adults

• Status: Active Not Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 15 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The present study aims to adapt and evaluate the feasibility of the BeatIt-2 behavioral activation intervention for people with intellectual disabilities and low mood to be implemented with minimally verbal autistic individuals.

Detailed description

Aim 1. The first phase of the project will focus on adapting the BeatIt-2 manual to consider specific needs of MV autistic adults. This procedure includes an intervention development group (IDG), for which MV autistic adults and their supporters (i.e., someone identified as a source of support they can work with) will be recruited. Aim 2. During the following phase of the project, a feasibility trial will be conducted. Using the treatment manual and study procedures adapted and refined in phase 1, the trial will examine the feasibility and acceptability of BeatIt-MV.

Conditions

• Autism
• Depression
• Autism Spectrum Disorder With Impaired Functional Language
• Autism Spectrum Disorder

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	BeatIt-MV	BeatIt-MV, designed to be implemented with minimally verbal autistic individuals, is an adaptation of BeatIt-2. The intervention aims to improve mood and decrease depressive symptoms through an increase in meaningful engagement in recreational, domestic, and social/leisure activities.

Timeline

• Start date: 2023-11-01
• Primary completion: 2025-08-30
• Completion: 2025-08-30
• First posted: 2023-10-03
• Last updated: 2025-06-11

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States