Standard mental health therapies often fall short for autistic adults, study suggests
PsyPost • • health
Key Points:
- A study published in Nature Mental Health found that autistic adults show varied responses to standard psychological therapies for depression and anxiety, with some improving while others remain stable or worsen, influenced by factors like ethnicity and daily living difficulties.
- Analysis of data from 7,175 autistic adults in England revealed five distinct patterns of depression symptom change and seven patterns for anxiety, with most patients experiencing little to no improvement during therapy.
- Higher pre-treatment difficulties in daily functioning and belonging to ethnically minoritized groups were linked to poorer mental health outcomes, highlighting compounded challenges in therapy effectiveness.
- Standard psychological therapies often fail to accommodate autistic individuals' specific needs, such as sensory sensitivities and the impact of autistic burnout, suggesting a need for neurodiversity
