An interventional study of Unified Protocol-Adolescent Autism Parent Group (UP-A-AST) in Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Anxiety Disorders and Depressive Disorder, sponsored by Sahlgrenska University Hospital. Recruiting at 1 site in Sweden. Open to participants aged 12 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-06-10.
Sponsored by Sahlgrenska University Hospital · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with high rates of psychiatric comorbidity, particularly anxiety and depressive disorders, which contribute to significant impairment for affected youth and their families. Although cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is recommended as a first-line treatment for anxiety and depression in children and adolescents, there is a lack of evidence-based interventions specifically adapted for youth with ASD and co-occurring emotional disorders.
The Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders in Children and Adolescents (UP-C/UP-A) is a CBT-based intervention targeting shared mechanisms underlying anxiety and depression. A parent-mediated adaptation, the Unified Protocol-Adolescent Autism Parent Group (UP-A-AST), has been developed to address the specific needs of adolescents with ASD and co-occurring anxiety and/or depressive disorders. Preliminary quality improvement work has shown promising results.
This study aims to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of the UP-A-AST Parent Group in a child and adolescent outpatient psychiatric setting. The study will include parents of adolescents aged 12-17 years with ASD and co-occurring anxiety and/or depressive disorders. Outcomes include changes in adolescents' psychiatric symptoms and functional impairment, as well as parents' perceived parenting competence. Additionally, parents' experiences of participating in the intervention will be explored.
1,724 studies on the registry are indexed under Autism Spectrum Disorder; 500 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 72 is above the median of 52 across 1,368 interventional studies indexed under Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Browse Autism Spectrum Disorder studies →Sahlgrenska University Hospital is the lead sponsor of 263 studies on the registry; 68 are open to participants now.
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Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
The American Psychiatric Association’s manual of mental health diagnoses. DSM-5 (2013, revised as DSM-5-TR in 2022) replaced DSM-IV, and some studies still name the older edition. “Meets DSM criteria for …” means diagnosed by that edition’s diagnostic criteria, usually by a clinician in an interview.
DSM diagnostic criteria
The American Psychiatric Association’s manual of mental health diagnoses. DSM-5 (2013, revised as DSM-5-TR in 2022) replaced DSM-IV, and some studies still name the older edition. “Meets DSM criteria for …” means diagnosed by that edition’s diagnostic criteria, usually by a clinician in an interview.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Participants receive the Unified Protocol-Adolescent Autism Parent Group (UP-A-AST), a parent-mediated, group-based cognitive behavioral intervention adapted for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder and co-occurring anxiety and/or depressive disorders. The intervention is delivered to parents in a group format and focuses on enhancing understanding of emotional difficulties and providing strategies to support adolescents' emotion regulation and functioning
Other: Unified Protocol-Adolescent Autism Parent Group (UP-A-AST)
The intervention is delivered in a group format to parents and focuses on strengthening parenting skills and promoting the adolescent's mental health and functional outcomes.
Change from baseline in RCADS Total Score through 3-Month Follow-up.
Anxiety and depressive symptom severity will be assessed using the parent-reported version of the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS), a validated questionnaire measuring symptoms of anxiety and depression in children and adolescents.Total scores range from 0 to 141, with higher scores indicating greater symptom severity .
Time frame: Baseline, at completion of the intervention (10 weeks) and 3 months post intervention
Change from baseline in Child Anxiety Life Interference Scale-Revised, Parent Version (CALIS-R) total Score at 3-Month follow-up
Functional impairment related to anxiety will be assessed using the Child Anxiety Life Interference Scale-Revised, Parent Version (CALIS-R), a 16-item parent-report measure assessing the impact of the child's anxiety on functioning within and outside the family, as well as the impact on parental functioning. Total scores range from 0 to 64, with higher scores indicating greater anxiety-related interference .
Time frame: Baseline, at completion of the intervention (10 weeks) and 3 months post intervention
Change From Baseline in Brief Parental Self-Efficacy Scale (BPSES) Total Score at 3-Month Follow-up
Parental self-efficacy will be assessed using the Brief Parental Self-Efficacy Scale (BPSES), a five-item self-report measure evaluating parents' perceived competence and confidence in their parenting role. Total scores range from 5 to 30, with higher scores indicating greater parental self-efficacy .
Time frame: Baseline, at completion of the intervention (10 weeks) and 3 months post intervention
Parent-reported experience of participation in the intervention UP-A-AST Parent Group
Parent experiences of participating in the intervention will be assessed using the Evaluation of the UP-A-AST Parent Group, a study-specific questionnaire developed for this intervention. The questionnaire consists of six items rated on a 10-point scale, yielding a total score ranging from 0 to 60, with higher scores indicating a more positive experience of participation. The questionnaire also includes three open-ended questions regarding positive aspects of the parent group, aspects that participants would have preferred to be different, and any additional comments or reflections.
Time frame: At completion of the intervention (12 weeks)
Plan to share: No
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Started Jan 2026 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Dec 2026, 11 months after the start.
Of 800 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Autism Spectrum Disorder, half reached primary completion within 25 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 12 and three quarters within 48. This study's planned 11 months is below that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 823 studies reached it within 25 months; a quarter within 12 and three quarters within 47.
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