A Randomized Controlled Trial of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Versus Treatment as Usual for Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorders and Comorbid Anxiety
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2015
Keywords
autism spectrum disorder, anxiety, adolescents, cognitive-behavioral therapy, obsessive-compulsive disorder
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1002/da.22332
Abstract
Objective: Examine the efficacy of a personalized, modular cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) protocol among early adolescents with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and co-occurring anxiety relative to treatment as usual (TAU).
Method: Thirty-one children (11–16 years) with ASD and clinically significant anxiety were randomly assigned to receive 16 weekly CBT sessions or an equivalent duration of TAU. Participants were assessed by blinded raters at screening, posttreatment, and 1-month follow-up.
Results: Youth randomized to CBT demonstrated superior improvement across primary outcomes relative to those receiving TAU. Eleven of 16 adolescents randomized to CBT were treatment responders, versus 4 of 15 in the TAU condition. Gains were maintained at 1-month follow-up for CBT responders.
Conclusions: These data extend findings of the promising effects of CBT in anxious youth with ASD to early adolescents.
Was this content written or created while at USF?
Yes
Citation / Publisher Attribution
Depression and Anxiety, v. 32, issue 3, p. 174-181
Scholar Commons Citation
Storch, Eric A.; Lewin, Adam B.; Collier, Amanda B.; Arnold, Elysse; Nadai, Alessandro S.; Dane, Brittney F.; Nadeau, Joshua M.; Mutch, P. Jane; and Murphy, Tanya K., "A Randomized Controlled Trial of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Versus Treatment as Usual for Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorders and Comorbid Anxiety" (2015). Pediatrics Faculty Publications. 70.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/ped_facpub/70
