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

项目总结/摘要 大多数患有自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）的成年人都在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， 在患有ASD的成年人中，这些疾病通常未经治疗。新出现的证据表明， 认知行为疗法（CBT）有效地减少患有ASD的成年人的焦虑和抑郁;然而， 很少有临床医生接受过提供这种护理的培训。关于如何最好地部署这种 在社区精神卫生（CMH）环境中对ASD成年人进行循证精神卫生干预。 本研究的目的是：1）从治疗师和医生两方面确定CMH临床医生的培训需求， 从消费者的角度，为患有ASD和并发焦虑症的成年人提供优质护理; 2） 为ASD成年人改编焦虑治疗手册，并制定治疗师培训方案来实施这一点 CMH中心的干预; 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既定的学术界 宾夕法尼亚大学心理健康政策和服务中心 研究和两个费城CMH中心为成年人服务。来自Focus的定性和定量数据 小组，半结构化的个人访谈和在线调查，结合专家意见，将 整合为ASD成人和CMH临床医生提供焦虑干预手册的设计 训练方案这项研究的结果将用于增加目前有限的治疗选择 可用于患有ASD和并发焦虑症的成年人。拟议的研究和培训 活动促进申请人追求学术研究事业的长期目标，致力于 通过传播和宣传，改善ASD成年人的心理健康服务和生活质量， 执行科学。具体的培训目标是：1）获得学术界的专业知识 2）发展与设计和实施公共心理学新实践有关的技能 卫生部门; 3）在混合方法方面获得坚实的基础;以及4）整合研究，专业 发展，和奖学金，以准备作为一个独立的研究人员的成功。

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.