Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42621262›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in psychiatry2026

Feasibility and effectiveness of a manualized group psychotherapy program for autistic adults: a naturalistic clinical study.

Tina Schweizer, Thomas Fangmeier, Andrea Lichtblau, Julia Peters, Manon Mannherz, Monica Biscaldi-Schäfer, Dieter Ebert, Andreas Riedel, Ludger Tebartz van Elst

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in psychiatry, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the 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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

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

9 authors.

Tina SchweizerDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
Thomas FangmeierDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
Andrea LichtblauDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
Julia PetersDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
Manon MannherzDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
Monica Biscaldi-SchäferDepartment of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
Dieter EbertDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
Andreas RiedelDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
Ludger Tebartz van ElstDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Psychosocial interventions for autistic adults remain limited. This study evaluated the implementation feasibility and potential clinical effectiveness of a manualized group psychotherapy program delivered under routine care conditions. Methods: Data from 115 autistic adults who completed the program in routine outpatient care were analyzed. Outcomes included pre- to post-intervention changes in social responsiveness as primary outcome, as well as self-worth, depressive symptoms, and quality of life as secondary outcomes. Results: Overall social responsiveness improved significantly from pre- to post-intervention. Significant post-intervention improvements were further detected for self-worth and depressive symptoms, while quality of life showed no significant change. Discussion: The findings indicate that the manualized group psychotherapy program seems to be feasible in routine clinical care and was associated with improvements in social functioning, self-worth, and depressive symptoms, suggesting preliminary clinical effectiveness. However, randomized controlled trials are warranted to further establish efficacy.

Indexed as

autism spectrum disorderautistic adultsdepressiongroup psychotherapypsychosocial interventionsocial functioningsocial skillsstress management

Identifiers

PMID42621262
PMCPMC13487416

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

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.