A pilot feasibility study of a brief psychoeducational intervention for caregivers following a child’s autism spectrum disorder diagnosis

Background Caregivers of children recently diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) face challenges in understanding their child and adapting parenting approaches, yet structured post-diagnostic support is often limited. This pilot study evaluated the feasibility and preliminary outcomes of a brief psychoeducational group program delivered after ASD diagnosis in a routine outpatient setting. Methods A total of 119 caregivers of school-aged children (6–12 years) with newly diagnosed ASD participated in a single-arm pilot study. The intervention consisted of three 90-minute group sessions covering neurodevelopmental characteristics, structured teaching strategies, and social resources. Feasibility was assessed through completion rates, attendance, and satisfaction ratings. Primary outcomes included caregiver depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale), parenting behaviors (Positive and Negative Parenting Scale), and caregiver-perceived child behavioral difficulties (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire). Results The program completion rate was 65.5% (78/119), and attendance at the core psychoeducational sessions addressing neurodevelopmental understanding and structured teaching exceeded 84%. Participant satisfaction was high, with 96% of respondents reporting satisfaction or partial satisfaction. No significant changes were observed in primary outcomes. Exploratory analyses indicated modest increases in Respect for Autonomy (dz = 0.28) and reductions in Harsh Discipline (dz = −0.32). Conclusions This brief psychoeducational intervention appears feasible and acceptable within routine outpatient care. Although primary outcomes did not change significantly, exploratory analyses suggested modest changes in selected parenting domains without correction for multiple comparisons. Given the single-arm uncontrolled design, these findings should be interpreted as preliminary and warrant further evaluation in controlled studies with longer follow-up.