Evaluating a Strengths and Needs Assessment for Autistic adults

What is the study about?
This study will test an online assessment to identify autistic people’s strengths and needs.

Who can take part?
People who have recently received a diagnosis of autism from Leeds Autism Diagnostic Service.

What is involved?
Participants will be asked to complete a brief demographics questionnaire and will then be randomised to test the Strengths and Needs assessment or receive treatment as usual. Both groups will be asked to complete a questionnaire about mental health and wellbeing at the start and 3 months later. A subsample of participants will be invited to take part in an interview after completing the follow-up measures. In these interviews participants will be asked what they thought about the trial procedure, what they thought about the Strengths and Needs Assessment (assessment group only) and about their experiences of post-diagnostic support. Clinicians from the LADS service will also be invited to give feedback via focus groups.

How can people get involved?
At the end of diagnostic assessment those who receive an autism diagnosis will be offered an information leaflet about the study. It will then be up to individuals to contact the research team at the University of Sheffield if they would like to take part in the study.