| A preliminary investigation was conducted of the efficacy of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for adolescents with Asperger Syndrome and/or Nonverbal Learning Disability. A sample of adolescents meeting diagnostic criteria was selected from a specialized high school for high-functioning students on the Autistic Spectrum. An 8-week, group-based treatment protocol was constructed and administered by the researcher, and pre- and post- measures were taken. It was hypothesized that after ACT treatment: (1) there would be significant decreases in psychological inflexibility---as measured by the Avoidance and Fusion Questionnaire for Youth (AFQ-Y); (2) there would be significant increases in valued living---as measured by the Valued Living Questionnaire for Teens (VLQ-A); and (3) decreases in psychological inflexibility would be correlated with decreases in psychopathology---as measured by the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI).;Although the changes in psychological flexibility were in the expected direction, statistically significant decreases were not found. The second two hypotheses were supported. Significant increases were found in valued living (operationalized here as reduced discrepancy between reported "importance" and reported levels of "energy and effort" in a self-selected life domain). A very strong positive correlation (r = .942, p = .001) was found between decreases in psychological inflexibility and decreases in psychopathology.;The present study was limited by its small sample size (n = 7), lack of a control group, and dependence on self-report. The data must therefore be interpreted conservatively. However, taken as a pilot study, the results strongly suggest that larger randomized controlled efficacy studies of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for adolescents with Asperger Syndrome and/or Nonverbal Learning Disability are warranted. |
