Journal Article

Feasibility, Acceptability and Preliminary Efficacy of Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Autistic Adults without Intellectual Disability: A Mixed Methods Study

2022

Overview

Self-harm and suicidal behaviors are prevalent among autistic adults without intellectual disability (ID). Emotion dysregulation (ED), the difficulty in modulating emotions, has been identified as an important risk factor. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) has been proved effective to treat ED in disorders other than autism spectrum disorder. Our study aimed at assessing the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary efficacy of DBT in seven autistic adults without ID exhibiting self-harm and/or suicidal behaviors linked to severe ED. Our results suggest that DBT is feasible and highly acceptable to autistic adults without ID. Additionally, mean scores on the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale decreased significantly post-treatment and at 4-month follow-up, suggesting that DBT might be efficacious in reducing ED in this population.

• Publisher: Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Acceptability / Adults / Affect (Psychology) / Autism / Autism Spectrum Disorders / Autistic adults / Behavior / Behavior modification / Behavior therapy / Behavioral Science Research / Communication Skills / Comorbidity / Contingency Management / Disorders / Efficacy / Emotional regulation / Emotions / Feasibility / Intellectual disabilities / Intellectual Disability / Intervention / Medical treatment / Mental Disorders / Meta Analysis / Mindfulness / Mixed methods research / People with disabilities / Population / Post traumatic stress disorder / Posttraumatic Stress Disorder / Psychotherapy / Risk factors / Self destructive behavior / Self injury / Skill development / Suicide / Suicides & suicide attempts / Therapy / Training Methods