Understanding mental health challenges in autistic adults
Mental Health in Autistic Adults: An RDoC Approach
This study is looking at how autistic adults handle their emotions in everyday situations, especially since it can sometimes lead to feeling really upset or even hurting themselves, and it aims to find ways to help them feel better by tracking their feelings and reactions over two weeks.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10902130 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates the emotional dysregulation (ED) experienced by autistic adults, which can lead to suicidal thoughts, self-injury, and impulsive aggression. By using a 14-day ecological momentary assessment, researchers will monitor participants' physiological responses and behaviors in real-time to better understand how ED manifests in daily life. The study will include 200 autistic adults and 100 non-autistic adults, focusing on how different contexts influence emotional responses and the risk of self-harm. The goal is to identify patterns that could inform better mental health interventions for autistic individuals.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are autistic adults aged 21 and older who may experience suicidal thoughts or self-injury.
Not a fit: Patients who are not autistic or do not experience emotional dysregulation may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved mental health support and interventions for autistic adults experiencing emotional dysregulation.
How similar studies have performed: While there has been limited prior research on emotional dysregulation in autistic adults, this study aims to fill significant gaps, making it a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bylsma, Lauren M — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Bylsma, Lauren M
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.