Autism and Attachment. An Explorative Study of Attachment Styles in Autistic Adults.

Recruiting

• Conditions: Autism Spectrum Disorder

• Registration Number: NCT06375226
• Lead Sponsor: Parnassia Groep

Brief Summary

The present study examines the relationship between attachment and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in adults.

Detailed Description

Rationale: Previous research on autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attachment has improved understanding of the aetiology and development of the disorder. Research on adults with ASD, however is scarce. The study is focussed on attachment in adults with ASD. Objective: The aim of the current study is to explore attachment styles of adults with ASD and examining the relationship between attachment and ASD.

The study requires 60 participants.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2024-03-01
• Status Verified: 2024-04
• Study First Submitted: 2024-04-16
• Study First Submitted QC: 2024-04-16
• Study First Posted: 2024-04-19
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-04-19
• Last Update Posted: 2024-04-23
• Primary Completion: 2025-04-01
• Study Completion: 2025-04-01

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 60

Inclusion Criteria

• Inclusion criteria are:

  • a primary clinical diagnosis of DSM-5 ASD (APA, 2013)
  • age 18 - 65 years
  • no intellectual disability (IQ > 80)

Exclusion Criteria

• acute psychosis
• acute suicidality
• psychotic disorder
• intellectual disability (IQ < 80)

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Experiences in Close Relationships - Revised questionnaire (ECR-r)	15 minutes	The ECR-r measures adult attachment within romantic relationships in past and present in 36 items, consisting of two subscales of 18 items each (attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance). Each item is rated from 'strongly disagree' (1) to 'strongly agree' (7).
The Attachment Styles Questionnaire (ASQ)	15 minutes	The ASQ is a questionnaire consisting of 24 items and assesses four attachment styles (secure, preoccupied, fearful, and dismissing). The 5-point rating scale ranges from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree).
The Social Responsiveness Scale - Adult version (SRS-A)	15 minutes	The SRS-A is a screening tool for identifying possible ASD characteristics in adults suspicious for ASD, is 64-item self-report questionnaire measuring various dimensions of interpersonal behavior, communication, and rigid, repetitive behaviour and interests, characteristic for adults with ASD. Each item is rated on a 1-4 point scale.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

ParnassiaGroep Antes; 🇳🇱 Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands