Mental health and well-being for autistic adults
Mental Health in Autistic Adults: An RDoC Approach
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · NIH-11120989
This project works with autistic adults to co-create and share research and outreach that aims to make mental health supports more relevant and accessible.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (PITTSBURGH, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11120989 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You would join a team where autistic community members meet regularly with researchers in an Autistic Partners Group to shape how studies are done and shared. Partners co-develop recruitment messages, consent materials, and plain-language summaries so research is easier to find and join. The team runs community outreach and 'pop-up' events to reach groups less often included in research, like older adults, women, racial and ethnic minorities, sexual minorities, people with intellectual disability, and residents of rural or under-resourced areas. The core also helps train researchers to work respectfully with autistic communities and improves overall recruitment and retention.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Autistic adults, especially those from groups historically underrepresented in research (older adults, racial/ethnic minorities, female sex, sexual minorities, people with intellectual disability, and those in rural or under-resourced areas).
Not a fit: People looking for immediate clinical treatment or new therapies may not benefit directly, because the core focuses on engagement, materials, and dissemination rather than providing clinical care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could make mental health research more usable for autistic adults and increase access to future services and trials.
How similar studies have performed: Using participatory methods with autistic partners has shown promise in improving relevance and recruitment, though applying this specifically to adult mental health is still emerging.
Where this research is happening
PITTSBURGH, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH — PITTSBURGH, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: BECK, KELLY BATTLE — UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- Study coordinator: BECK, KELLY BATTLE
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions: Autistic Disorder