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Multicenter study on psychotherapy for adults with autism spectrum disorders starts at six study centers / Led by the Medical Center - University of Freiburg / Subjects wanted

Autism spectrum disorders are as common in the population as eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders or personality disorders. Despite this, there are currently no proven treatment options for affected adults for the core social symptoms, which include impaired social interaction. Under the leadership of the Medical Center - University of Freiburg and the Humboldt University of Berlin, the world's largest study on psychotherapy for adults with ASD is now starting. The study is being conducted at six locations and funded by the German Research Foundation with a total of over two million euros.

"With our study, we want to improve the situation of autistic people. For the first time, the study offers the opportunity to establish and offer a demonstrably effective therapy. This would be a real milestone for those affected," says Prof. Dr. Ludger Tebartz van Elst, Deputy Medical Director of the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg. He is leading the study together with Prof. Dr. Isabel Dziobek from the Humboldt University of Berlin.

Psychotherapy and online services are being tested

In the clinical phase III study, the effectiveness of a group psychotherapy developed at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg(FreiburgAutism-SpecificTherapyfor Adults, FASTER) and an online social skills training program (SCOTT&EVA - SocialCognitionTrainingTool) developed at HU Berlin will be tested in a total of 360 adults. Both forms of therapy will be compared with a control group in order to prove the effectiveness of these treatment approaches according to the principles of evidence-based medicine. In FASTER, information on psychoeducation, stress management and social interaction is provided in 16 therapy sessions, as well as role-playing and homework. SCOTT is an online training program for understanding different emotions based on facial expressions and intonation as well as complex social interactions.

Search for neurobiological or genetic prediction patterns

Furthermore, an additional study funded by the NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence in Berlin is investigating possible positive effects of the forms of therapy on brain function. It will also analyze whether genetic and neurobiological patterns can predict which patients will particularly benefit from which type of therapy.

As part of these studies, adults with an autism spectrum disorder can be offered free psychotherapy at the six study locations.

Subjects wanted

The clinical study will take place at the following study locations

• Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Department of Psychology
• Carl-Gustav-Carus-University Dresden, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• University of Duisburg-Essen, LVR-Klinik Essen, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy
• Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy
• Central Institute for Mental Health Mannheim
• Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy

Interested parties can find out more via the following link: https://www.uniklinik-freiburg.de/psych/klinische-schwerpunkte/asperger-autismus/fasterscott-studie.html

Contact:
Prof. Dr. Ludger Tebartz van Elst
Deputy Medical Director
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy
Medical Center - University of Freiburg
Phone: 0761 270-66030