Development of a new program on awareness and coping strategies for autistic traits using CBT
autistic traits, anxiety, Autism, autistic, depression
CBT is an evidence-based treatment for children, adolescents, and adults who have mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. It can be modified and applied to treat mental health issues in autistic children [
Similarities and differences between the PEGASUS and ACAT programIncreasing the recipient’s awareness of a child’s autistic traitsUnderstanding the child’s autistic responsesPracticing problem-solving skillsOne session/week for six sessionsEach session lasts 90 minOne session/week for six sessionsEach session lasts 100 minAdditional sessions before the first session and follow-up sessionGroup discussion Children’s group: After attaining general knowledge about autistic traits, the group discusses the strengths, weaknesses, and characteristics of children’s autistic traits in the unit “autistic traits and me. They also discuss compensation strategies for autistic traits.Parents’ group: The group reflects on the impact of autistic traits on their family and the surrounding environment. They also discuss potential resources and networks around the child and family.Co-psychoeducation and CBT1. Psychoeducation on autistic traits2. Using the CBT model3. Discuss problem-solving methods and plan what kind of problem-solving strategies will improve the child’s adjustment. See Table The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the ACAT intervention compared to treatment-as-usual (TAU). The specific hypotheses were as follows:
Adolescents and parents/guardians assigned to the combined ACAT and TAU (COMB) group would show improved Autism Knowledge Quiz (AKQ) scores compared to those assigned to the TAU group alone.Adolescents assigned to the COMB group would show reduced treatment stigma and improved mental health, including coping strategies and social adaptation, compared to those in the TAU group.Parents/guardians assigned to the COMB group would show an increased awareness of children’s autistic traits and improved mental health and adaptive skills to deal with their children’s challenges compared to those in the TAU group.