Trial reportAutism : the international journal of research and practice2014
Group cognitive behavioural therapy and group recreational activity for adults with autism spectrum disorders: a preliminary randomized controlled trial.
Trial report in Autism : the international journal of research and practice, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 2 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 46 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Recreational Activity for Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorders. A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Internet-based Treatment for Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder (MILAS)
Who cites it
46 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 111 citations in OpenAlex.
- Non-Pharmacological Interventions Targeting Sense of Coherence Among Older Adults and Adults With Chronic Conditions: A Meta-Analysis With Trial Sequential Analysis.Journal of advanced nursing · 2025Pooled it
- Psychosocial therapeutic approaches for high-functioning autistic adults.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2023Pooled it
- Group-based educational interventions in adolescents and young adults with ASD without ID: a systematic review focusing on the transition to adulthood.European child & adolescent psychiatry · 2022Pooled it
- Interventions to address health outcomes among autistic adults: A systematic review.Autism : the international journal of research and practice · 2020Pooled it
- Communicative Behaviors in an Internet-Based Intervention for Individuals With Autism: Mixed Methods Analysis.Journal of medical Internet research · 2026Trial
- Acceptance and commitment therapy for autistic adults: A randomized controlled pilot study in a psychiatric outpatient setting.Autism : the international journal of research and practice · 2023Trial
- Therapeutic Riding or Mindfulness: Comparative Effectiveness of Two Recreational Therapy Interventions for Adolescents with Autism.Journal of autism and developmental disorders · 2022Trial
- The impact of schizotypy on quality of life among adults with autism spectrum disorder.BMC psychiatry · 2022Trial
- Brief Report: A Job-Based Social Skills Program (JOBSS) for Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.Journal of autism and developmental disorders · 2020Trial
- Outcomes of a Robot-Assisted Social-Emotional Understanding Intervention for Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders.Journal of autism and developmental disorders · 2020Trial
- Effects of Dog Assisted Therapy for Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Exploratory Randomized Controlled Trial.Journal of autism and developmental disorders · 2020Trial
- A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of the ACCESS Program: A Group Intervention to Improve Social, Adaptive Functioning, Stress Coping, and Self-Determination Outcomes in Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disorders · 2018Trial
- Involvement of Autistic Adults in Recreational Activities.Journal of autism and developmental disorders · 2026Article
- Feasibility and effectiveness of a manualized group psychotherapy program for autistic adults: a naturalistic clinical study.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2026Article
- Article
- MilitaryAdvances in neurodevelopmental disorders · 2025Article
- Article
- Mental health counseling is rated as most helpful by autistic adults: Service perspectives in adulthood.Autism : the international journal of research and practice · 2024Article
- An internet-based behavioral intervention for adults with autism spectrum disorder - A randomized controlled trial and feasibility study.Internet interventions · 2023Article
- Mechanisms of change in Behavioral Activation: Adapting depression treatment for autistic people.Cognitive and behavioral practice · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Although adults with autism spectrum disorder are an increasingly identified patient population, few treatment options are available. This preliminary randomized controlled open trial with a parallel design developed two group interventions for adults with autism spectrum disorders and intelligence within the normal range: cognitive behavioural therapy and recreational activity. Both interventions comprised 36 weekly 3-h sessions led by two therapists in groups of 6-8 patients. A total of 68 psychiatric patients with autism spectrum disorders participated in the study. Outcome measures were Quality of Life Inventory, Sense of Coherence Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and an exploratory analysis on measures of psychiatric health. Participants in both treatment conditions reported an increased quality of life at post-treatment (d = 0.39, p < 0.001), with no difference between interventions. No amelioration of psychiatric symptoms was observed. The dropout rate was lower with cognitive behavioural therapy than with recreational activity, and participants in cognitive behavioural therapy rated themselves as more generally improved, as well as more improved regarding expression of needs and understanding of difficulties. Both interventions appear to be promising treatment options for adults with autism spectrum disorder. The interventions' similar efficacy may be due to the common elements, structure and group setting. Cognitive behavioural therapy may be additionally beneficial in terms of increasing specific skills and minimizing dropout.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.