Individual schema therapy for high-functioning autism spectrum disorder with comorbid psychiatric conditions in young adults: Results of a naturalistic multiple case study

Schema Therapy (ST) approaches to high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (HF-ASD) in young people have yet to demonstrate differential effectiveness, and there is little evidence that young people with HF-ASD adapt ST. We conducted a pilot study and case series for HF-ASD in adolescents. We first included patients with HF-ASD (N = 8) into a 4-week baseline phase; this phase functioned as a no-treatment control condition. Then patients began a 5-20-week exploration phase during which symptoms and underlying schemas were explored; this phase functioned as a dysfunctional emotional and behavioural control condition. Next, the treatment phase, the patients received up to 25 sessions of individual ST. In this four-case series, all four participants reported severe maladjustment at baseline and achieved remission by the end of treatment. Conclusions: ST shows promise as a treatment for young adults with HF-ASD.