MH-POWER: A skills program for autistic college students with stress, anxiety, and depression
Official title: Empowering Autistic College Students: Mental Health Skill Building at a Hispanic-Serving Institution
Run by University of Texas Rio Grande Valley · NCT07682753 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This 8-week program tests a mental health skills and empowerment approach for autistic college students experiencing stress, anxiety, and depression.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 30 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 30 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Edinburg, Texas) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | July 1, 2026 |
| Main results expected | June 30, 2027 |
| Study ends | June 30, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | September 3, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07682753 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
College students at UT Rio Grande Valley, ages 18-30, with a self-reported autism diagnosis confirmed by the Social Responsiveness Scale-2 and elevated stress, anxiety, or depression symptoms.
✕Probably not a fit
Students with autism who do not experience elevated stress, anxiety, or depression, or those who need intensive psychotherapy or medication adjustments during the study, may not benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
The MH-POWER program combines elements of cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and habit formation delivered through weekly sessions with daily practice over eight weeks to autistic college students. Feasibility and preliminary efficacy will be assessed using measurements of stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms at baseline, mid-intervention, post-intervention, and one-month follow-up. Participants are recruited from The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, aged 18-30, with a confirmed autism diagnosis and elevated mental health symptoms, who are not undergoing intensive psychotherapy or recent psychiatric medication changes. The study aims to determine whether this structured program can be feasibly implemented in a college setting and whether early improvements in mental health symptoms are observed. Positive results could support scalable, campus-based mental health interventions for this population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, participants may experience reduced stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms and improved coping during college life.
How similar studies have gone: Prior CBT- and ACT-based approaches show promise for reducing mental health symptoms in autistic adults, but this specific 8-week, habit-forming program in a college setting is relatively novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria * College students at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley * age 18-30 years * self-reported autism diagnosis confirmed via Social Responsiveness Scale-2nd Edition, the gold standard to assess impairment in adults on the autism spectrum * elevated stress, anxiety (worry, feeling overwhelmed), or depression (feeling down), confirmed using highly reliable and validated screening tools; Patient Health Questionnaire-9, General Anxiety Disorder-7, Kessler Psychological Distress Scale-10 * not currently receiving intensive psychological treatment or psychiatric medication adjustments * must be able to speak and read English * willing to participate in an 8-week intervention study Exclusion criteria: \- None
Where it's running
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Department of Occupational Therapy, ESWOT Building, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Edinburg, Texas, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Wen-Pin Chang, PhD
- Email: wenpin.chang@utrgv.edu
- Phone: 9566656405
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.