The experiences of adults with autism in a talking therapies service.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Experiences of Adults with an Autism Spectrum Condition in Talking Therapies Services in Bristol.
IRAS ID
146108
Contact name
Christopher Jarrold
Contact email
Research summary
This study aims to explore how adults with an autism spectrum condition (ASC) are supported in a talking therapies service, also known as an Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) service.
IAPT services provide psycho-educational courses, one-to-one and group therapy for individuals suffering from depression and anxiety disorders. It is known that individuals with an ASC more commonly experience periods of depression and suffer from anxiety disorders (Lugnegård et al. 2011). From this understanding it would be expected that adults with an ASC frequently access IAPT services for support.
Individuals with an ASC typically experience difficulties relating to a triad of impairments, namely social interaction, communication and rigid behaviours and routines. In addition to this they may have sensory needs, for example sensitivity to noise. Given these difficulties there may be some problems encountered when accessing therapy, such as difficulty engaging in a group environment or developing a therapeutic relationship.
This research will look at two key areas to understand how adults are supported in IAPT services. Firstly, the experiences of adults with an ASC in an IAPT service will be examined and secondly the viewpoints of IAPT practitioners on working with an adult with an ASC will be explored. To examine the experiences of service users we will use two methods; questionnaires and focus groups. The questionnaire will ask details about the individual’s referral and experiences in the service. There will be the option to then attend a focus group where service users will discuss their experiences in more detail. To understand the experiences of practitioners, a questionnaire will be sent to IAPT practitioners in Bristol. We hope that through understanding both service users and practitioners experience’s we can understand where changes could be made to improve the service for adults with an ASC.
REC name
North West - Preston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/NW/0171
Date of REC Opinion
17 Mar 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion