Improving Community Mental Health Services for Adults with ASD and Co-Occurring Psychiatric Disorders

项目摘要/摘要 大多数患有自闭症谱系障碍(ASD)的成年人都与心理健康问题作斗争，最常见的是 焦虑和抑郁。尽管他们的高患病率和相关的损害，共同发生的精神疾病 患有自闭症的成年人的疾病通常得不到治疗。新出现的证据表明，经过特殊改造的 认知行为疗法(CBT)有效地减少了成人ASD患者的焦虑和抑郁；然而， 很少有临床医生接受过提供这种类型的护理的培训。关于如何最好地部署这样的 社区精神卫生(CMH)环境中成人ASD患者的循证心理健康干预。 拟议研究的目的是：1)确定中医临床医生的培训需求，从治疗师和 从消费者的角度，为患有自闭症和焦虑症的成年人提供优质护理；2) 修改成人自闭症患者的焦虑治疗手册和治疗师培训方案以实施这一点 对CMH中心的干预；以及3)检查适应治疗的可行性和可接受性 相关治疗师培训方案。这项研究将依赖于一个成熟的学术团体 宾夕法尼亚大学心理健康政策和服务中心之间的合作 研究中心和两个为成年人服务的费城CMH中心。来自FOCUS的定性和定量数据 小组、半结构化个人访谈和在线调查，结合专家意见，将 为成人自闭症患者和CMH临床医生设计焦虑干预手册提供参考 训练规程。这项研究的结果将用于增加目前有限的治疗选择 适用于患有自闭症和焦虑症的成年人。拟议的研究和培训 活动有助于申请者追求致力于以下领域的学术研究职业的长期目标 通过宣传和改善成人自闭症患者的心理健康服务和生活质量 实施科学。具体的培训目标是：1)在学术界获得专业知识 伙伴关系；2)培养与设计和实施公共心理中的新做法有关的技能 卫生部门；3)在混合方法方面获得坚实的基础；以及4)将研究、专业 发展和奖学金，为作为一名独立研究人员的成功做准备。

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Most adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) struggle with mental health problems, most commonly anxiety and depression. Despite their high prevalence and associated impairment, co-occurring psychiatric disorders often are untreated in adults with ASD. Emerging evidence suggests that specially modified cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) effectively reduces anxiety and depression in adults with ASD; however, few clinicians are trained to deliver this type of care. Little is known regarding how to best deploy such evidence-based mental health interventions for adults with ASD in community mental health (CMH) settings. The aims of the proposed study are to: 1) Identify CMH clinicians' training needs, from both therapist and consumer perspectives, to provide quality care to adults with ASD and co-occurring anxiety disorders; 2) Adapt an anxiety treatment manual for adults with ASD and a therapist training protocol to implement this intervention in CMH centers; and 3) Examine the feasibility and acceptability of the adapted treatment and associated therapist training protocol. This study will rely on an established academic-community partnership between the University of Pennsylvania's Center for Mental Health Policy and Services Research and two Philadelphia CMH centers serving adults. Qualitative and quantitative data from focus groups, semi-structured individual interviews, and online surveys, combined with expert opinion, will be integrated to inform the design of the anxiety intervention manual for adults with ASD and a CMH clinician training protocol. Findings from this study will be used to increase the currently limited treatment options available for adults with ASD and co-occurring anxiety disorders. The proposed research and training activities facilitate the applicant's long-term goal of pursuing an academic research career dedicated to improving mental health services and quality of life for adults with ASD through dissemination and implementation science. Specific training goals are to: 1) Gain expertise in academic-community partnership; 2) Develop skills related to designing and implementing new practices in the public mental health sector; 3) Acquire a strong foundation in mixed methods; and 4) Integrate research, professional development, and scholarship to prepare for success as an independent researcher.