PhD Scientific Days 2026

Mental Health Sciences 2.

Adapting Mentalization-Based Treatment for Autistic Adults: A Pilot Feasibility Study

Előadó neve

Mr. Sörnyei, Dániel, MSc

Neptune code

EAYGF8

Előadó munkahelye

Department of Clinical Psychology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary

Előadó telefonszáma

+36305975262

Előadó e-mail címe

sornyei.daniel.tibor@semmelweis.hu

Az előadás címe

Adapting Mentalization-Based Treatment for Autistic Adults: A Pilot Feasibility Study

Szerző(k) neve és munkahelye

Dániel Sörnyei^1,2, Sára Bálint², Anna Nyulászi³, Márton Horváth³, Fanni Mercédesz Kovács², Kinga Farkas²

1: Department of Clinical Psychology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
2: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
3: Department of Crisis Intervention and Psychiatry, Péterfy Sándor Street Hospital-Specialist Clinic, Budapest, Hungary

Bemutatás módja

Szóbeli

Szekció

Mental Health Sciences 2.

Language of the presentation

Hungarian

Preferred session

Mental Health Sciences

Összefoglaló szövege

Introduction: Autistic adults often experience difficulties in social understanding and reflective capacities. These difficulties are closely related to mentalization, which may therefore represent a relevant target for psychosocial interventions. Although Mentalization-Based Treatment (MBT) is an established approach adapted to several psychiatric conditions, its application in autism remains underexplored.
Aims: This study examined the feasibility of an MBT-informed introductory group intervention for autistic adults and identified the challenges and modifications required to support engagement in this population.
Methods: This open-label, uncontrolled feasibility study comprised two iterative pilot groups (N1 = 6; N2 = 8). Both included ten 90-minute sessions supported by visual materials, a predictable structure, and written handouts. The second pilot group also included biweekly individual sessions. Feasibility was explored using session observations, feedback, video recordings, and three-month follow-up interviews. A multidisciplinary team met regularly for reflective debriefings. Baseline and post-intervention assessments included the MZQ, SRS-2, AAS, AAQ-II, MSPSS, BDI, and STAI, as well as the AQ-50, which is currently being examined in our parallel psychometric study in a larger sample.
Results: Participants valued predictability, explicit rules, written communication, concrete examples, and extended processing time. Early group processes were limited, with sessions functioning as parallel mini-individual encounters. Individual sessions improved trust, continuity, and clarification of the material. Reflective team meetings emerged as a clinically meaningful space for processing unspoken group dynamics. Descriptively, modest changes were observed in self-reported mentalization, social communication, and depressive symptoms, whereas broader relational constructs appeared less responsive.
Conclusions: MBT-informed group interventions for autistic adults appear feasible, but require substantial adaptation in pacing, group size, communication style, and therapeutic support. Multidisciplinary team meetings may serve as a reflective container, providing a foundation for future MBT interventions for autistic adults. Larger, controlled studies are necessary to evaluate the efficacy and mechanisms of change, given the exploratory nature of our findings.

University

Semmelweis University

Supervisor

Kinga Farkas, MD PhD

Publication of my abstract

I give consent to the publication of my abstract on the website of the congress.

phd.section.field

in doctoral studies after complex exam (PhD)

Kind

Szabad

Status

elfogadva

Accepted presentation method

szóbeli

Előadás fájl jóváhagyás

jóváhagyta

Előadó

9013

Start

12:15

End

12:25