The Effects of Rumination Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Autism Spectrum Disorder and their Brain Basis

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K14447
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 10030:Clinical psychology-related
• Research Institution: Hamamatsu University School of Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Takeichi Shun 浜松医科大学, 医学部附属病院, 臨床心理士 (00838237)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 自閉スペクトラム症 / 認知行動療法 / 反芻思考 / 脳画像解析

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of Rumination-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (RFCBT) in adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who have comorbid depressive symptoms, and to investigate the brain mechanisms underlying the development of depressive symptoms and their recovery in people with ASD by applying brain imaging analysis to evaluate the efficacy of the treatment. The purpose of the study was to investigate the efficacy of RFCBT (Rumination-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: RFCBT) and to investigate the brain mechanisms of depressive symptoms and their recovery in ASD patients by applying brain imaging analysis to evaluate the efficacy of the treatment. We plan to recruit up to 30 participants to complete the study according to the developed protocol and analyze the results at that time.

Free Research Field

臨床心理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

成人自閉スペクトラム症（Autism Spectrum Disorder：ASD）当事者に併存する抑うつ症状に対する有用な認知行動療法が確立されていない現状で、実証的な基礎研究の知見に基づいた理論的枠組みを有する反芻思考に焦点づけた認知行動療法（Rumination-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy：RFCBT）の治療効果を臨床症状および脳活動のレベルで評価可能な予備的な無作為化比較試験のプロトコルを作成し実行した。ASD当事者に対する治療効果を科学的に検討でき、科学的エビデンスに裏付けされた有用なCBTの確立に寄与することが期待される。