The development, feasibility and acceptability of Empower-Autism: A new psychoeducational and psychotherapeutic programme for caregivers of children recently diagnosed with autism.

The feasibility sample was small, with 29 caregivers across three groups, so the results cannot show whether the programme works. The study did not test effectiveness against a comparison group. The sample came from one autism assessment team in the north of England, and the children were aged 4 to 15 years, so it says little about caregivers of very young children. Interviewers and analysts were part of the programme development team, which could bias the qualitative findings. Facilitators were new to the programme, and fidelity of delivery was not objectively measured. Online delivery was evaluated during the pandemic, when it was the only option for some participants, so views may differ now. Four of the seven low or non-attenders had anxiety, but the study cannot rule out that anxiety affected attendance. Caregivers and facilitators said there was too much content for the time available, so the final programme was changed after the feasibility phase.

The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest. The study was funded by the UK National Institute of Health and Social Care Health Technology Assessment programme.

Do not read the high attendance, satisfaction and perceived benefits as proof that Empower-Autism improves caregiver mental health. It was a small feasibility study of a combined autism psychoeducation and ACT programme, not an effectiveness trial. The benefits were reported by participants, not measured outcomes.