Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41637734›Full record

Trial reportJournal of medical Internet research2026

Communicative Behaviors in an Internet-Based Intervention for Individuals With Autism: Mixed Methods Analysis.

Britta Westerberg, Karin Jacobson, Maria Unenge Hallerbäck, Susanne Bejerot, Fredrik Holländare

Registry-linked trialAbstract readClinical Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Journal of medical Internet research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT03570372 (Internet-based Treatment for Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder), which is not on this map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

NCT03570372 nacompletednot on this map

Internet-based Treatment for Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder (MILAS)

TypeinterventionalSponsorÖrebro County CouncilRan2018 to 2020Enrolled84ConditionsAutism Spectrum DisorderArmsInternet-based treatment for adults with autism spectrum, Psychoeducation about autism spectum disorder
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Britta WesterbergSchool of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2320-4973
Karin JacobsonSchool of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0007-7345-8118
Maria Unenge HallerbäckSchool of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0837-1079
Susanne BejerotSchool of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3587-6075
Fredrik HolländareSchool of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9500-7763

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTo meet the needs of individuals diagnosed with autism, internet-based interventions have been developed with a variety of objectives. A deeper understanding of the mechanisms of change may help tailor interventions to individual needs. The communicative behaviors of individuals with autism participating in text-based internet-based interventions remain largely unexplored, as do their potential relations to clinical outcomes. An improved understanding of participants' behaviors may help therapists better tailor support, promote engagement, and enhance treatment outcomes.

objectiveThis study aimed to explore the communicative behaviors of individuals with autism participating in an internet-based intervention and to examine whether different behavioral patterns were associated with treatment outcomes or treatment adherence.

methodsMessages from 34 participants enrolled in an 18-week internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy program were analyzed using abductive qualitative content analysis. Correlational analyses were used to examine the relationships between qualitative categories and change scores on outcome measures and rates of module completion.

resultsFourteen behavioral categories were identified and grouped into three overarching domains: (1) "This is me," which encompasses the participants' narratives on identity, personality, autistic functioning, current and past circumstances, and worldview; (2) "Working with the treatment," which included statements related to engagement with the treatment process; and (3) "I struggle," which comprised of past and present negative experiences and challenges. Correlational analyses revealed associations between several behavioral categories and improvements in quality of life and treatment adherence.

conclusionsThe findings highlight the importance of self-narrative formulation among individuals with autism and suggest that certain communicative behaviors-particularly those involving identity reflection and recognition of treatment-related gains-were positively associated with therapeutic outcomes. The findings enhance our understanding of how individuals with autism engage in internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy and may serve as a valuable source of information for therapists when guiding expectations regarding client outcomes and identifying participants who may benefit from additional support.

trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT03570372; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03570372.

Indexed as

Autistic DisorderCognitive Behavioral TherapyCommunicationInternetInternet-Based InterventionAdolescentAdultChildFemaleHumansMaleTreatment OutcomeYoung Adultautismcommunicative behaviorsinternet-based treatmentnarrative identity

Identifiers

PMID41637734
PMCPMC12917485

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

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.