Date Submitted
7-2026
Faculty Advisor
Nichmarie Soto Bonilla
Abstract
People with ASD have gained greater access to resources due to both greater access to early assessment and reductions in societal prejudice and stigma against those with neurological disabilities. However, the treatment and therapy provided to those with ASD still center on child populations. This study analyzed the current literature in search of research that focus on inventions that target an adult’s experience with symptoms of ASD. Two specific symptoms of ASD were analyzed for this study and were based on the diagnosis criteria for ASD within the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 5th edition text revised (DSM-5-TR). These symptoms were a) Persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction and b) current and/or historical pattern of restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities. Articles published between the years 2014-2025 were analyzed that reviewed either individual and/or group modification to CBT to treat either of these two symptoms. This study found eight studies that provide evidence that group modifications to CBT were effective in improving socialization in adults with ASD. Two studies were also found that specific individual modifications to CBT (such as incorporating social skills training and emotion recognition training) have a positive impact on the social functioning in adults with ASD. One study assessed the effectiveness of both group and individual modifications to treat aspects of socialization. However, no studies were found that analyzed restrictive and/or repetitive behaviors exclusively, with one study examining individual modifications to treat both socialization and restrictive behaviors, and one that reviewed both group and individual modifications to treat aspects of socialization. This study directly exposed the significant gaps that exist for specific interventions for ASD adults.
