Calls for better access to talking therapies for autistic people

Autistic adults have poorer access to appropriate mental healthcare, despite being more likely to experience anxiety or depression than the general population, finds a new study by UCL researchers. It is estimated that up to 27% of autistic people experience anxiety and 23% develop depression, compared to 5.9% and 3.3% in the wider population. Evidence-based psychological therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy or counselling, are recommended in by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for autistic people who are struggling with their mental health. However, the researchers wanted to investigate whether the treatments currently available through the NHS are beneficial for the population of autistic people who require them. The new study, published in Lancet Psychiatry , examined therapy outcomes for 8761 autistic adults who attended NHS Talking Therapies for Anxiety and Depression (formerly known as IAPT) Depressive symptoms were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)**, which considers factors such as a lack of interest in doing things, issues with sleep, and feelings of low mood. Symptoms of anxiety were measured using the GAD7 questionnaire, which asks how often a person feels worried, on edge or unable to relax. Researchers used existing data from large medical records databases to measure participants' outcomes (depression and anxiety scores) both before and after therapy to see if there was an improvement in symptoms.