The effect of cognitive-behavioral therapy versus treatment as usual for anxiety in children with autism spectrum disorders: a randomized, controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the efficacy of a modular cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) protocol relative to treatment as usual (TAU) among children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and clinically significant anxiety.


METHODS
A total of 45 children (7-11 years of age) with high-functioning ASD and clinically significant anxiety were randomized to receive 16 sessions of weekly CBT or TAU for an equivalent duration. After screening, assessments were conducted at baseline, post-treatment, and 3-month follow-up. Raters were blind to treatment condition.


RESULTS
Youth receiving CBT showed substantial improvement relative to TAU on primary anxiety outcomes. Of 24 children randomized to the CBT arm, 18 (75%) were treatment responders, versus only 3 of 21 children (14%) in the TAU arm. Gains were generally maintained at 3-month follow-up for CBT responders.


CONCLUSIONS
Relative to usual care, CBT adapted for anxious youth with high-functioning ASD demonstrates large effects in reducing anxiety symptoms. This study contributes to the growing literature supporting adapted CBT approaches for treating anxiety in youth with ASD.
Department of Pediatrics, Rothman Center for Neuropsychiatry, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA. estorch@health.usf.edu
Eric A
EA
Storch
Elysse B
EB
Arnold
Adam B
AB
Lewin
Josh M
JM
Nadeau
Anna M
AM
Jones
Alessandro S
AS
De Nadai
P
P
Jane Mutch
Robert R
RR
Selles
Danielle
D
Ung
Tanya K
TK
Murphy
D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D001526:Behavioral Symptoms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000523:psychology; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs