New program aims to help autistic adults navigate romance and sexual health
NCT ID NCT07406100
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This pilot study is testing a program called CRUSH, which is a sexual health curriculum designed specifically for autistic adults aged 18 to 30. The program includes group sessions and one-on-one coaching to teach about relationships and sexual health. The goal is to see if the program is practical, well-liked, and shows early signs of improving knowledge and skills. Forty participants will be followed over several months.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Competence in Romance and Understanding Sexual Health (CRUSH) curriculum
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could provide a structured, evidence-based sexual health program tailored for autistic adults, potentially improving their relationship knowledge and skills.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very small pilot study with only 40 participants, so results may not apply to all autistic adults. It is also early-stage, focusing on feasibility rather than proven effectiveness.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
-
About 40 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
-
Apr 2026
- Expected to finish
-
Jul 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
18 to 30 years
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * 18;0 to 30;11 years old; * Either documentation of a prior diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder or receipt of services based on an autism spectrum diagnosis OR self identification as being autistic / on the autism spectrum and meeting the clinical cut-off on either the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule or the Autism Spectrum Quotient; * Ability to provide consent for the protocol and understand task demands. The Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence, Second Edition (WASI-2) may be used to confirm cognitive level. In prior work, adults with full scale IQ of 70 or above on the WASI-2 typically meet this criterion, but a licensed clinician will review individuals who fall below an IQ of 70 on an individual basis to determine eligibility; * Fluent in English. Exclusion Criteria: * Non-English-speaking participants (less than 50% of speech in English); * Known genetic etiology of ASD (e.g., Fragile X); * Major mental illness (e.g., bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or psychosis); * Medical conditions that impact sexual function (e.g., pituitary tumor); * Significant sensory, motor, or physical conditions that would prevent valid participation in assessments or intervention; * Live more than 50 miles from the site in Brookline, MA where intervention and assessment sessions will be offered. * Receipt of other sexual health/dating curricula as an adult.
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Autism are added.
Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
-
The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
-
The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
-
A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Boston Children's Hospital, Two Brookline Place
RECRUITINGBrookline, Massachusetts, 02445, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Can wireless monitors make ER vitals easier for autistic children?
- Why do some children with autism struggle with balance?
- Brain zaps tested to calm emotional storms in autism
- Can an AI chatbot help autism caregivers find their way?
- Pregnancy and birth clues: what raises autism risk?
- Can virtual reality boost thinking skills in kids with autism?