Proof of concept: The TRANSITION program for young adults with autism spectrum disorder and/or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Figures & data

Figure 1. Structure of the TRANSITION programme and measures used in the feasibility study. QOLI: Quality of Life Inventory; GAS: Goal Attainment Scaling.

Table 1. Outline of the TRANSITION-programme.

Session	Format	Content	Duration
Session 1	Individual meeting with mentor	Introduction: principles, structure and life domains; individual strengths and difficulties; formulate individual values, goals and activities; homework	2 h
Session 2	Workshop	‘Entering adulthood’: introduction; guest lecturer with ADHD and/or ASD; group discussion; homework	2½ h
Session 3	Workshop	Work and education: lecture; group discussion; homework	2½ h
Session 4	Workshop	Finance and housing: lecture; group discussion; homework	2½ h
Session 5	Workshop	Health: lecture; group discussion; homework	2½ h
Session 6	Workshop	Leisure/participation in society and relationships/social network: lecture; group discussion; homework	2½ h
Session 7	Individual meeting with mentor	Evaluation of the group-based workshops; preliminary assessment of goal attainment; update of goals	1½ h
Mentor period	Weekly individual contact (email, text messages, phone) with mentor	Coaching regarding goal attainment	Flexible, a maximum of 30 minutes per week
Session 8	Individual meeting with mentor	Evaluation of the mentor period; assessment of goal attainment; maintenance	1½ h

Table 2. Baseline characteristics of the participants in each of the three TRANSITION groups and the total sample.

Characteristics	Total sample	Group 1	Group 2	Group 3	Group differences
Participants, n	26	10	6	10	NA
Age, median (range)	20 (17–24)	18 (17–19)	23 (19–24)	22 (18–24)	p < .001
Women, n (%)	13 (50)	5 (50)	3 (50)	5 (50)	p = 1.00
ASD^a, n (%)	22 (85)	10 (100)	4 (67)	8 (80)	p = 0.15
ADHD, n (%)	18 (69)	6 (60)	5 (83)	7 (70)	p = 0.86
Mental health condition^b, n (%)	12 (46)	5 (50)	3 (50)	4 (40)	p = 1.00
Psychostimulants, n (%)	14 (54)	6 (60)	4 (67)	4 (40)	p = 0.68
Antidepressants, n (%)	11 (38)	4 (40)	1 (17)	6 (60)	p = 0.28
IQ^c, median (range)	100 (78–119)	105 (88–114)	100 (84–119)	90 (78–107)	p = 0.13

ASD: autism spectrum disorder; ADHD: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; NA: Not applicable.

^aA diagnosis of autism, Asperger syndrome, atypical autism, or pervasive developmental disorder – not otherwise specified.

^bIncluded major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, generalised anxiety disorder, and borderline personality disorder.

^cIQ-scores were missing for six participants.

Figure 2. The goal attainment scale level attained by the completers in their most and second most favourable domain.

Table 3. Participants’ identified goals within each life domain, and the score level attained.

Life domain	Most unfavourable outcome (–2)	Less than expected outcome (–1)	Expected outcome (0)	Greater than expected outcome (+1)	Most favourable outcome (+2)	Total number of participants setting a goal within the domain
Work	2 (17%)	3 (25%)	2 (17%)	1 (8%)	4 (33%)	12
Education	2 (15%)	2 (15%)	0 (0%)	4 (31%)	5 (38%)	13
Finance	5 (31%)	4 (25%)	3 (19%)	1 (6%)	3 (19%)	16
Housing	2 (18%)	3 (27%)	1 (9%)	3 (27%)	2 (18%)	11
Health	2 (11%)	7 (37%)	3 (16%)	5 (26%)	2 (11%)	19
Leisure/participation in society	2 (29%)	2 (29%)	0 (0%)	2 (29%)	1 (14%)	7
Relationships/social network	2 (17%)	2 (17%)	4 (33%)	3 (25%)	1 (8%)	12
Total	17 (19%)	23 (26%)	13 (14%)	19 (2%)	18 (20%)	90