Services to Enhance Social Functioning in Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorders

Services to Enhance Social Functioning in Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorders

The purpose of this study is to test a novel, three-part cognitive behavioral treatment strategy to improve social functioning in adults with autism spectrum disorder.

The treatment, named TUNE In (Training to Understand and Navigate Emotions and Interactions), includes components to address the many behavioral domains involved in social functioning, including social motivation, social anxiety, social cognition, social skills, and generalization of the skills to community settings.

The Investigators will test the efficacy of TUNE In to improve social functioning in adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), using a randomized controlled trial using the SRS-2 as the primary outcome measure.

Inclusion Criteria:

• diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder

Exclusion Criteria:

• intellectual disability
• severe mood or psychotic symptoms experienced in the past 4 weeks
• severe self-injurious or aggressive behavior
• severe extrapyramidal motor or sedating side effects of medications
• concomitant participation in another social skills treatment program.