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

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