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When parents of a child with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) first hear the diagnosis, they must cope with grief and mourn the loss of the idealized child that all parents hope for. Simultaneously, care for the child is complex, rigorous, and time consuming. These investigators conducted a trial of a six-session, manual-based therapy, problem-solving education (PSE) designed to help these mothers cope. In a randomization procedure stratified by depressive symptom scores, 122 mothers were assigned to PSE or to usual care.
PSE, often conducted in the home, was provided by staff members largely untrained in mental health. Mothers chose a practical problem (e.g., how to get respite) and then worked on specific tasks to address the issue. Mean …