XClose

UCL Grand Challenges

Menu

Participatory Research In Depression and Autism (PRIDA)

A bottom up, multi-informant study to understand the lived experience of depression, recovery and interpersonal therapy experiences in autism in the UK.

Woman with blond hair talking to young boy with brown hair in a therapy session

22 January 2026

Grant

Grant: Grand Challenges Special Initiative
Year awarded: 2023-24
Amount awarded: £8,000

Academics

  • Dr Georgia Pavlopoulou, Clinical, Education and Health Psychology (PALS), Brain Sciences
  • Dr Rosyln Law, Anna Freud Centre

Depression can be more common in autistic individuals, compared to the general population. Depression can have a detrimental effect on daily life and increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and premature death. Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) is an evidence-based talking therapy for people experiencing depression, recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). It frames treatment interpersonally, examining the impact of role changes, conflicts, bereavement and social isolation in initiating and maintaining depression. The NICE guidelines do not currently consider adaptions for autistic people. They often suggest neuro-normative concepts that may result in masking the autistic self and increase alienation, by educating autistic people to mimic neurotypical ways of interacting with others. 

This project sought to understand the therapist’s experience of working with autistic adults with depression to explore how to best adapt clinical practices for depression to support autistic adults. Consulting with autistic people and allies to finalise aims and co-produce a set of questions for three focus groups, allowed the interpersonal therapist to examine the experiences, strategies, enablers and barriers professionals face when applying NICE guidelines for the treatment of depression. 

The project team has been able to develop a protocol to co-run photo-elicitation interviews and focus groups adapted to work with other groups of professionals at UCL and Anna Freud. The results will contribute to the wider discussions being made at UCL, as well as a seminar series idea for the Interpersonal Therapists Network. 

The research team were invited to submit a position paper in Americal Journal of Psychotherapy (IF:2.5) and prepared a manuscript for Autism in Adulthood (IF:9.9) to report focus group results, and have received internal funding to continue with the project. 

Image credit: iStock

Outputs and Impact

The team co-produced research aims and focus group questions with autistic individuals and allies. Five focus groups with over 15 therapists have been completed. These discussions included therapists from UCL and Anna Freud, examining challenges and strategies when applying NICE guidelines to autistic adults with depression.

Preliminary analysis using reflexive thematic analysis identified several key themes:

  • Therapists are committed to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) and shifting away from outdated approaches.
  • Autism disclosure helps tailor therapy, though therapists lack sufficient autism-specific training.
  • IPT’s emphasis on social connection may be overwhelming for autistic clients, raising concerns about reinforcing masking behaviours.
  • Therapists struggle to differentiate autistic traits from mental health conditions, including burnout versus depression.
  • Many autistic individuals come to therapy self-identifying their diagnosis, with therapists adapting their approach accordingly.
  • Therapists emphasized the need for training designed by autistic experts and greater peer support in overcoming service barriers.

Impact

PRIDA promotes social justice and inclusion, ensuring research is conducted with autistic people rather than just about them. This project enabled consultations between experts by experience and researchers, shaping more inclusive therapeutic adaptations. The team partnered with UCL’s Group for Research in Relationships and NeuroDiversity (GRRAND) to integrate novel methodologies into therapist training. Project findings have contributed to EDI efforts in clinical practice and inform how talking therapies can be adapted for autistic individuals but challenges still remain, including recruitment difficulties and funding limitations. The study also highlighted the need for streamlined payment processes for Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) and NHS ethics approval for future funding rounds.

Looking Ahead

For updates, follow:

  • Twitter: @grrand_team
  • Instagram: @grrand_neurodiversity

Mental Health and Wellbeing teaser

Related links