title: Effects of cognitive-behavioural therapy on anxiety for children with high-functioning autistic spectrum disorders.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Children with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) often exhibit one or more comorbid disorders, including anxiety, disruptive behaviour, mental retardation, and depression. Various studies have documented the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) in treating children with anxiety. Although studies have indicated a high prevalence of anxiety in individuals with ASD, there is a lack of systematic studies substantiating the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioural interventions among children with high-functioning autism.
  
  
  METHODS
  This pilot study investigated the effects of a 16-session CBT programme on six high-functioning children diagnosed with ASD (mean age 11.50 years, standard deviation 0.84 years). These children were diagnosed with ASD or Asperger's syndrome by the DSM-IV criteria. Measures on levels of child's anxiety, parental and teacher stress were administered at pre- and post-treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children showed lower levels of anxiety at post-treatment. Parents and teachers also reported lower levels of stress following the CBT programme.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings from the present study provided some evidence of the effects of CBT for high-functioning autistic children in reducing anxiety, parental and teacher stress. Interpretation of the findings, recommendations for future research and implications of the present study are presented.
authors: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Mental Health, Child Guidance Clinic, Health Promotion Board, 3 Second Hospital Avenue #03-01, Singapore 168937.
authors: Y P
authors: YP
authors: Ooi
authors: C M
authors: CM
authors: Lam
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Sung
authors: W T S
authors: WT
authors: Tan
authors: T J
authors: TJ
authors: Goh
authors: D S S
authors: DS
authors: Fung
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Pathy
authors: R P
authors: RP
authors: Ang
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Chua
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015995:Prevalence; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome