The automorphism group of a binary doubly-even self-dual code is always contained in the alternating group. On the other hand, given a permutation group $G$ of degree $n$ there exists a doubly-even self-dual $G$-invariant code if and only if $n$ is a multiple of 8, every simple self-dual $\F_2G$-module occurs with even multiplicity in $\F_2^n$, and $G$ is contained in the alternating group.

Added a new proof for the main result