Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)NCT07360223
Internalized Symptoms in Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Typically Developing Adolescents : Gaining Insight Into Coping Strategies and the Psychological Processes Involved
An observational study of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), run by Université Catholique de Louvain.
Trial summary
Introduction: Adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have more mental health problems than typically developping adolescents (without ASD). Coping strategies are a key concern for adolescents with ASD in managing depressive and anxiety symptoms. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 12 to 17 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- What is being tested?
- Questionnaire and interview
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- How many people
- 252 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- 1 Feb 2026to 31 Dec 2031
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 12 to 17 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child
Study population: Adolescents aged between 12 and 17 with or without ASD
Who may be able to join
- 12-17 years
- speak french fluently
Who cannot join
- Intellectual disability
Trial locations and contacts
No sites are listed yet. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Héloïse HL Louvegny, PhD Student contact
About this study
Introduction: Adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have more mental health problems than typically developping adolescents (without ASD). Coping strategies are a key concern for adolescents with ASD in managing depressive and anxiety symptoms. Currently, few studies have examined the coping strategies used by adolescents with ASD. The methodological considerations underscore the need for an assessment method tailored to adolescents with ASD. Finally, although current data are still limited, the results suggest that there may be differences between the coping strategies used by adolescents with ASD and typically developing adolescents, thus calling for more in-depth comparative research.
Objectives: This study aims to validate a coping strategies assessment method adapted for adolescents with ASD (1) and to examine coping strategies associated with internalizing symptoms (2)
Read more
Population: 252 participants: 84 adolescents with ASD (1), 84 adolescents with autistic traits but no clinical diagnosis of ASD (2), and 84 typically developing adolescents (3). The age range is 12-17 years.
Study design: The study is divided into two parts: a cross-sectional part (T) and a longitudinal part (L).
- The cross-sectional part will include three meetings spread over a period of approximately three months (approximately one meeting per month).
- The longitudinal part will consist of a meeting scheduled one year after the last meeting of the cross-sectional part.
- Conditions
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Being tested
- Questionnaire and interview
- Keywords
- ASD coping
- Medical subject headings
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Questionnaire and interviewBehavioural
Participants will complete questionnaires and take part in a semi-structured interview
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Adolescents | Typically developing adolescents (without ASD) Receives: Behavioral: Questionnaire and interview | |
| Adolescents with autistic traits without a clinical diagnosis of ASD | Adolescents with autistic traits without a clinical diagnosis of ASD: T score between 66-75 on the SRS-2 Receives: Behavioral: Questionnaire and interview | |
| Adolescents diagnosed with ASD | ASD diagnosis made by a specialist physician Receives: Behavioral: Questionnaire and interview |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Coping strategies
Measure by questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. Questionnaire : Coping Strategies Inventory (CSI) The questionnaire is designed to identify coping strategy profiles. It includes 8 sub-strategies (Problem solving, Cognitive restructuring, Express Emotions, Social Support, Problem avoidance, Wishful thinking, Self-Criticism, Social Withdrawal) and does not have strict minimum or maximum scores. Instead, it provides an overview of the relative use of each coping strategy
Measured: Throughout the entire study, approximately during 5 years
Secondary outcomes (1)
Anxious, depressive and somatic symptoms
Measure by questionnaire Questionnaire : Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS) T-score < 65 → Non-clinical range. Symptoms are minimal or within the typical range compared to the normative population. No clinical concern is indicated T-score ≥ 65 → Borderline/clinically elevated Symptoms are higher than average and may indicate potential anxiety or depression issues.
T-score ≥ 70 → Clinically significant range Symptoms are substantially elevated compared to peers. There is a high likelihood of clinically meaningful anxiety or depression
Measured: Throughout the entire study, approximately during 5 years
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted22 Jan 2026
- Study start1 Feb 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion31 Dec 2031 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Dec 2031 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (2)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)Studies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Université Catholique de LouvainThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 252 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Université Catholique de Louvain
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Nathalie NNG Nader-Grosbois, Professor, Principal investigator, Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain)
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07360223
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- TSA coping
- Status last verified
- Jan 2026
- First submitted
- 14 Jan 2026
- Last updated
- 29 Jan 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Rieffe C, Oosterveld P, Terwogt MM, Mootz S, van Leeuwen E, Stockmann L. Emotion regulation and internalizing symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorders. Autism. 2011 Nov;15(6):655-70. doi: 10.1177/1362361310366571. Epub 2011 Jul 6.
PubMed 21733959Rieffe C, De Bruine M, De Rooij M, Stockmann L. Approach and avoidant emotion regulation prevent depressive symptoms in children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Int J Dev Neurosci. 2014 Dec;39:37-43. doi: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2014.06.003. Epub 2014 Jun 19.
PubMed 24951836
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 29 Jan 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Internalized Symptoms in Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Typically Developing Adolescents : Gaining Insight Into Coping Strategies and the Psychological Processes Involved
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07360223
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- TSA coping
- Conditions
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Keywords
- ASD coping
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 252 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Université Catholique de LouvainUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Feb 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 31 Dec 2031 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Dec 2031 (estimated)
- First posted
- 22 Jan 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Introduction: Adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have more mental health problems than typically developping adolescents (without ASD). Coping strategies are a key concern for adolescents with ASD in managing depressive and anxiety symptoms. Currently, few studies have examined the coping strategies used by adolescents with ASD. The methodological considerations underscore the need for an assessment method tailored to adolescents with ASD. Finally, although current data are still limited, the results suggest that there may be differences between the coping strategies used by adolescents with ASD and typically developing adolescents, thus calling for more in-depth comparative research.
Objectives: This study aims to validate a coping strategies assessment method adapted for adolescents with ASD (1) and to examine coping strategies associated with internalizing symptoms (2)
Population: 252 participants: 84 adolescents with ASD (1), 84 adolescents with autistic traits but no clinical diagnosis of ASD (2), and 84 typically developing adolescents (3). The age range is 12-17 years.
Study design: The study is divided into two parts: a cross-sectional part (T) and a longitudinal part (L).
- The cross-sectional part will include three meetings spread over a period of approximately three months (approximately one meeting per month).
- The longitudinal part will consist of a meeting scheduled one year after the last meeting of the cross-sectional part.
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Adolescents | – | Behavioral: Questionnaire and interviewTypically developing adolescents (without ASD) |
| Adolescents with autistic traits without a clinical diagnosis of ASD | – | Behavioral: Questionnaire and interviewAdolescents with autistic traits without a clinical diagnosis of ASD: T score between 66-75 on the SRS-2 |
| Adolescents diagnosed with ASD | – | Behavioral: Questionnaire and interviewASD diagnosis made by a specialist physician |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 12 to 17 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child
- Study population
- Adolescents aged between 12 and 17 with or without ASD
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- 12-17 years
- speak french fluently
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Intellectual disability
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Questionnaire and interviewParticipants will complete questionnaires and take part in a semi-structured interview | Behavioural | Adolescents, Adolescents diagnosed with ASD, Adolescents with autistic traits without a clinical diagnosis of ASD |
Primary outcome
Coping strategies
Time frame: Throughout the entire study, approximately during 5 years
Measure by questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. Questionnaire : Coping Strategies Inventory (CSI) The questionnaire is designed to identify coping strategy profiles. It includes 8 sub-strategies (Problem solving, Cognitive restructuring, Express Emotions, Social Support, Problem avoidance, Wishful thinking, Self-Criticism, Social Withdrawal) and does not have strict minimum or maximum scores. Instead, it provides an overview of the relative use of each coping strategy
1 secondary outcome
Anxious, depressive and somatic symptoms
Time frame: Throughout the entire study, approximately during 5 years
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 29 Jan 2026.
- Results publication: PubMed 21733959Rieffe C, Oosterveld P, Terwogt MM, Mootz S, van Leeuwen E, Stockmann L. Emotion regulation and internalizing symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorders. Autism. 2011 Nov;15(6):655-70. doi: 10.1177/1362361310366571. Epub 2011 Jul 6.
- Results publication: PubMed 24951836Rieffe C, De Bruine M, De Rooij M, Stockmann L. Approach and avoidant emotion regulation prevent depressive symptoms in children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Int J Dev Neurosci. 2014 Dec;39:37-43. doi: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2014.06.003. Epub 2014 Jun 19.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Héloïse HL Louvegny, PhD Student contact
Nathalie NNG Nader-Grosbois, Professor principal investigator
Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain)
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), run by Université Catholique de Louvain.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 29 Jan 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Héloïse HL Louvegny, PhD Student (010 47 80 60 ext. 0471 55 84 10, heloise.louvegny@uclouvain.be), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Coping strategies (time frame: Throughout the entire study, approximately during 5 years). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07360223, which also lists 2 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 29 Jan 2026.