Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Autism and Depression
(CBT-DAY Trial)
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
What is the purpose of this trial?
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression in Autistic Youth (CBT-DAY) can improve depressive symptoms and related mechanisms in autistic youth aged 11-17 years with depression receiving care in outpatient clinical settings.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
* Does CBT-DAY lead to greater reductions in depressive symptom severity compared to treatment-as-usual (TAU)?
* Does CBT-DAY improve key mechanisms (emotional reactivity, self-esteem, and autism self-knowledge) associated with depression outcomes?
Researchers will compare CBT-DAY versus treatment-as-usual (TAU) to see if CBT-DAY results in greater improvements in depressive symptoms and related outcomes.
Participants will:
* Complete baseline, mid-treatment, post-treatment, and 3-month follow-up assessments (surveys and interviews)
* Be randomly assigned to receive either 12 weeks of CBT-DAY or treatment-as-usual
* Participate in therapy sessions during the 12-week intervention period
* Complete follow-up assessments three months after treatment to evaluate longer-term outcomes
Who Is on the Research Team?
Jessica Schwartzman, PhD
Principal Investigator
Children's Hospital Los Angeles
Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?
Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?
How Is the Trial Designed?
2
Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Participants receive a structured, 12-week Cognitive Behavioral Therapy program adapted for autistic youth, targeting depressive symptoms and underlying mechanisms such as emotional reactivity and self-esteem. Therapy is delivered by trained clinicians with weekly sessions and includes assessments at baseline, mid-treatment, post-treatment, and follow-up.
Participants receive standard outpatient mental health care, typically consisting of supportive, talk-based therapy provided by clinicians without CBT-DAY training. Participants complete the same assessment schedule as the experimental arm across baseline, treatment, and follow-up timepoints.
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
Children's Hospital Los Angeles
Lead Sponsor
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Collaborator
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