Therapeutic Outcomes for Autistic Adults: Unraveling Anxiety and Depression Patterns

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological developmental condition characterized by variations in social interactions and the ability to comprehend others' thoughts or emotions, along with limited interests and repetitive actions. ASD can present in significantly different manners, and the experiences of those affected can differ substantially.

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A range of psychotherapeutic methods have been developed to assist autistic individuals in managing anxiety, depression, and other difficult emotions they may experience. Although some individuals with ASD benefit significantly from these therapies, others may find them less effective or not helpful at all.

Scientists from University College London (UCL) have recently conducted research focused on identifying key elements that affect treatment results for adults with autism. Their paper,published in Nature Mental Health, identifies various paths that these patients may follow throughout psychotherapy, with a specific emphasis on changes related to anxiety or depression.

The motivation behind this research was to enhance mental health support for individuals on the autism spectrum," Richard Pender, the paper's lead author, said to Medical Xpress. "We are aware that, regrettably, autistic individuals often do not gain as much from standard psychological treatments compared to those who are not autistic, and they frequently describe unfavorable encounters with these services. Our aim was to examine extensive data from regular mental health care throughout England, in order to grasp the various changes in depression and anxiety that autistic individuals faced during therapy.

Investigating the healing paths of individuals on the autism spectrum

The primary goal of this recent research was to investigate the elements that influence the speed or pace of improvement in anxiety and depression among individuals on the autism spectrum who are undergoing therapy. Identifying these elements may eventually lead to better treatment options.

To determine these elements, the researchers examined the MODIFY dataset, containing anonymized electronic health records of thousands of people in England. Pender and his team specifically looked at the records of 7,175 autistic adults who received therapy in England over a seven-year span.

We included individuals who had an autism diagnosis documented in their medical records and received treatment in standard primary mental health care environments throughout England from 2012 to 2019," said Pender. "We utilizedGrowth Mixture Modeling, a statistically oriented approach that utilizes machine learning to identify clusters of people exhibiting unique trajectories of development over time.

The scientists applied this statistical method to examine the psychological well-being of participants, as documented by therapists throughout their sessions. Furthermore, they utilized regression models to determine which clinical and demographic factors were linked to a higher probability of following a specific pattern in the development of anxiety or depression throughout treatment.

Initially, we demonstrated that there was significant variation in results from psychological treatments for anxiety and depression among autistic individuals," stated Pender. "Most people exhibited largely stable symptoms, although there were certain groups who saw either slow or quick improvement, or a worsening of their depression or anxiety. Secondly, we observed that some factors were linked to the probability of benefiting from treatment. These included ethnicity, as well as individuals' assessments of the effect on their relationships, and their capacity to manage daily tasks at home or engage in social or personal leisure activities.

The scientists noted that the third session of psychotherapy often served as a significant turning point for most patients, as it was the point at which models began to consistently forecast whether a patient was making progress or not. This suggests that these sessions could be a useful time for therapists to form early insights and adjust their treatment strategies accordingly.

"Our results also indicate that studies in this field must give greater consideration to the intersections of neurodivergence with race and ethnicity, as these factors impact service experiences and mental health outcomes," said Pender.

A continuous initiative to enhance autism assistance

The team's findings helped them recognize five patterns through which anxiety often develops in autistic adults undergoing therapy, along with seven typical paths for patients' depression. They also discovered elements that seemed to relate to either the improvement or deterioration of anxiety and depression throughout treatment.

For example, the researchers discovered that individuals fromethnical minority backgroundswere more prone to see their anxiety increase following the beginning of treatment. Moreover, greater challenges in finishing everyday tasks and participating in social activities seemed to correlate with less successful treatment results.

In the future, these findings may contribute to enhancing existing psychotherapy approaches for autistic adults or the guidelines followed by professionals. The recent study conducted by Pender and his team is part of an extensive research initiative focused on strengthening psychological support for autistic people, utilizing the MODIFY dataset along with other available health records.

"Team members are engaged in upcoming research to gain deeper insights into factors affecting results for neurodivergent individuals utilizing our services," said Pender.

There is a limit to what numerical data such as MODIFY can reveal, which is why it's essential to listen to and learn from autistic individuals who have used mental health services in order to enhance psychological treatments. This is the reason we are also conducting qualitative research based on personal experiences to gain deeper insights into people's perspectives and experiences regarding what makes therapy effective or ineffective for them.

This involves studies that focus on the experiences of autistic individuals from ethnic minority backgrounds and seek to enhance access to and support for them.

Created for you by our writerIngrid Fadelli,edited by Gaby Clark, and verified and examined byRobert Egan—this article is the product of meticulous human effort. We depend on readers like you to maintain independent science journalism. If this reporting is important to you, please consider adonation (especially monthly).

More information:Richard Pender and others, Changes in symptoms of depression and anxiety during psychological treatment for autistic adults,Nature Mental Health (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s44220-025-00567-4.

This narrative was first released onMedical Xpress.