Discussion
autistic, depression, autistic traits, ’ adaptive behavior
The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effectiveness of the ACAT intervention, developed to improve awareness of autistic traits among adolescents and parents/guardians. This would reduce treatment stigma and improve adolescents’ coping skills and social adaptation. We hypothesized that: (1) adolescents and parents/guardians in the COMB group would show improved awareness of autistic traits compared to those in the TAU group; (2) adolescents and parents/guardians in the COMB group would show reduced treatment stigma compared to those in the TAU group; (3) adolescents and parents/guardians in the COMB group would show decreased depression and psychological distress levels, and increased social adaptation, compared to those in the TAU group. As expected, the ACAT program increased awareness of autistic traits both among adolescents and their parents/guardians. In addition, it reduced treatment stigma and negative emotional and behavioral attributes in autistic adolescents. However, there were no effects on adolescents’ adaptive behavior and depression, as well as on treatment stigma, mental health, adaptive skills, and attitudes toward their children among parents/guardians.The ACAT was designed to improve the metacognition of cognitive and behavioral patterns for autistic adolescents by adding the “awareness of autistic traits” to CBT. With this approach, the metacognition of cognitive and behavioral patterns, which is often attenuated in autistic individuals and is difficult to conceptualize in the CBT model, can be targeted.