Abstract
Despite high rates of co-occurring depression, few studies have developed or adapted treatments targeting depressive symp-toms for autistic adults. Behavioral activation is widely accepted as an empirically supported approach for treating depres-sion in other populations. Careful attention to the mechanisms targeted by behavioral activation is an essential step toward adapting behavioral activation protocols for use with autistic adults. We consider the mechanisms targeted by behavioral activation and provide a framework for research to explore facilitators and barriers to the use of behavioral activation to treat depression in autistic adults. Drawing upon clinical experience and extant literature, the suggestions presented are aimed at highlighting considerations for clinicians wanting to use behavioral activation programs in their clinical prac-tices with autistic adults and to promote the research needed to establish behavioral activation as an evidence-based prac-tice for treating depression in adults on the autism spectrum.