MH-POWER for College Students on the Spectrum
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18-30
SponsorUniversity of Texas Rio Grande Valley
About this trial
The purpose of this project is to determine the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a mental health skill-building and empowerment program (MH-POWER) for college students on the autism spectrum facing stress, anxiety, and depression. The program, grounded in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and habit formation, will be implemented through weekly sessions and daily practice over 8 weeks. To evaluate the program's preliminary efficacy, we will measure mental health symptoms at baseline, mid-point, post-intervention, and one-month follow-up. Positive outcomes could lead to scalable interventions.
Eligibility criteria
This trial does not accept healthy volunteersQualifiers
College students at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
age 18-30 years
self-reported autism diagnosis confirmed via Social Responsiveness Scale-2nd Edition, the gold standard to assess impairment in adults on the autism spectrum
elevated stress, anxiety (worry, feeling overwhelmed), or depression (feeling down), confirmed using highly reliable and validated screening tools; Patient Health Questionnaire-9, General Anxiety Disorder-7, Kessler Psychological Distress Scale-10
Disqualifiers
None
Trial design
Design model
Single group
Treatments tested in this trial
The MH-POWER program
BehavioralThe MH-POWER program is an 8-week, structured, and manualized program to improve mental health skills. The program design consists of weekly 60-minute group sessions (8-12 in each group) and daily structured practice activities to reinforce the skills learned in each session. Based on the Self-Regulation Framework, the MH-POWER program systematically integrates (a) CBT with a specific focus on cognitive restructuring and behavioral activation; (b) ACT with mindfulness, acceptance strategies, and values clarification; and (c) the science of habit formation, which includes action planning, goal setting, prompts, and self-monitoring. The program focuses on developing greater relationships between thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, as well as the ability to cope effectively. The focus areas of development include learning how thoughts create emotions and influence actions, developing a positive mindset, enhancing stress management and coping skills, employing structured problem
Treatment groups
30 Participants
are divided into 1 treatment groupGroup A: The MH-POWER programExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
1
Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)
Individual scores on the PSS can range from 0 to 40 with higher scores indicating higher perceived stress
Time frame
It will be administered at baseline (Week 0), mid-intervention (Week 4), post-intervention (Week 8), and follow-up (Week 12)2
State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)
Each subscale yields a score between 20 and 80, with higher scores indicating greater severity of anxiety.
Time frame
It will be administered at baseline (Week 0), mid-intervention (Week 4), post-intervention (Week 8), and follow-up (Week 12)3
Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II)
Score ranges from 0-63. Higher scores indicate more severe depressive symptoms
Time frame
It will be administered at baseline (Week 0), mid-intervention (Week 4), post-intervention (Week 8), and follow-up (Week 12)Secondary outcomes
1
Self-Reported Habit Index (SRHI)
Averaged scores of all items range from 1 to 7, a higher score indicates that the behavior functions as a strong, automatic habit
Time frame
It will be administered at baseline (Week 0), mid-intervention (Week 4), post-intervention (Week 8), and follow-up (Week 12).2
Mental Health Quality of Life Questionnaire (MHQoL)
Scores range from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating better quality of life
Time frame
It will be administered at baseline (Week 0), mid-intervention (Week 4), post-intervention (Week 8), and follow-up (Week 12).Sponsors and contacts
Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Lead sponsor
American Occupational Therapy Foundation
Collaborator
Source ClinicalTrials.gov