Gawronski, A., Kuzmanovic, B., Georgescu, A., Kockler, H., Lehnhardt, F. -G., Schilbach, L., Volpert, K. and Vogeley, K. (2011). Expectations Concerning Psychotherapy of High-Functioning Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Forschritte Neurol. Psychiatr., 79 (11). S. 647 - 655. STUTTGART: GEORG THIEME VERLAG KG. ISSN 0720-4299

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Abstract

Background: In recent years there has been a strong increase in psychiatric diagnoses belonging to the autism spectrum in adulthood. For this diagnostic group of patients, often characterised by normal or above-average intelligence, i.e, high-functioning autism or Asperger syndrome, only few adequate psychotherapeutic treatment options exist. In order to develop a disorder-specific psychotherapeutic group training in a demand-oriented manner, we surveyed adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) concerning their needs and expectations relating to psychotherapy. Methods: A two-step analysis of needs was carried out: First, after a set of open questions written descriptions of 33 individuals with ASD were analysed using the qualitative content analysis according to Mayring. The resulting category system provided the basis for the closed questionnaire EPAS (Expectations Psychotherapy Autism Spectrum). In a second step, 64 individuals with ASD were assessed by EPAS to confirm the relevance of the qualitatively derived dimensions. Results: Both the results of the qualitative and the quantitative analysis confirmed the initial hypothesis that adults with ASD expressed problems associated with disorder-specific core symptoms. Moreover, the quantitative analysis demonstrated that in addition to deficits in social competence and identity formation, the lack of stress management skills represents a crucial load factor. Also, the therapist-associated variables were reported to play an important role for the patients. Discussion: The analysis of needs indicates that psychotherapy for adults with ASD should focus on the training and development of social-communicative skills. Furthermore, dealing with stress in everyday situations and identity formation after diagnosis should also be considered. Psychotherapists can refer to well-established techniques from cognitive behavioural therapy, which are known to be effective in the identified fields and should have sufficient disorder-specific knowledge, not least in order to prevent misunderstandings within the therapeutic working relationship.

Item Type: Journal Article
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCIDORCID Put Code
Gawronski, A.UNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Kuzmanovic, B.UNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Georgescu, A.UNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Kockler, H.UNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Lehnhardt, F. -G.UNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Schilbach, L.UNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Volpert, K.UNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Vogeley, K.UNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
URN: urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-485884
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1281734
Journal or Publication Title: Forschritte Neurol. Psychiatr.
Volume: 79
Number: 11
Page Range: S. 647 - 655
Date: 2011
Publisher: GEORG THIEME VERLAG KG
Place of Publication: STUTTGART
ISSN: 0720-4299
Language: German
Faculty: Unspecified
Divisions: Unspecified
Subjects: no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:
KeywordsLanguage
ASPERGER-SYNDROME; AQMultiple languages
Clinical Neurology; PsychiatryMultiple languages
URI: http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/48588

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