LAUSR

Young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) frequently report a multitude of pervasive sleep and circadian problems, including difficulties initiating and maintain sleep, excessive sleepiness, delayed phase, and irregular sleep–wake schedules. These sleep and circadian problems often occur in unison rather than as isolated problems and further impair social functioning, cognition, mood, and overall quality of life, during a particularly challenging developmental stage. Although sleep and circadian problems have been identified as a critical and unmet public health concern for young adults with ASD, and there is a robust evidence for transdiagnostic sleep interventions, there is a paucity of research on the efficacy of these interventions in young adults with ASD. Transdiagnostic Intervention for Sleep and Circadian Dysfunction (TranS-C), a patient-centered sleep intervention which has demonstrated improvements in sleep and circadian problems and reduce symptomology in both mental and physical health domains across a variety of mental health disorders, will be adapted and iteratively pilot-tested, so that its contents and service delivery methods are appropriate for young adults with ASD. Qualitative methods (semi-structured interviews) will be used to conduct and analyze feedback from key stakeholders (n=20; 10 dyads of young adults with ASD and their caregivers), and used to directly guide adaptations of TranS-C. Preliminary data of 5 young adults (18-24y) with ASD show that these individuals are likely to receive multiple sleep disorder diagnoses at equally similar rates (60% circadian rhythm sleep disorder, 60% insomnia disorder), and concurrently present with comorbid mental health problems (60% anxiety disorder, 60% depression). Our preliminary data along with existing studies suggest that (1) sleep and circadian problems experienced by individuals with ASD are multidimensional in nature, (2) negatively impact daytime functioning, both within several cognitive and mental health domains, and (3) require transdiagnostic approaches in individuals with ASD to address the broader range of sleep and circadian dysfunction experienced. Potential adaptations to TranS-C format and delivery may serve as a novel module for promoting intervention adherence and responding to unique features of ASD. Brad Hollinger Autism Research Endowment Award