Improving transportability of a cognitive-behavioral treatment intervention for anxiety in youth with autism spectrum disorders: results from a US-Canada collaboration.
Anxiety disorders frequently co-occur in youth with autism spectrum disorders. In addition to developing efficacious treatments for anxiety in children with autism spectrum disorders, it is important to examine the transportability of these treatments to real-world settings. Study aims were to (a) train clinicians to deliver Facing Your Fears: Group Therapy for Managing Anxiety in Children with High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders to fidelity and (b) examine feasibility of the program for novel settings. A secondary aim was to examine preliminary youth treatment outcome. Results indicated that clinicians obtained excellent fidelity following a workshop and ongoing consultation. Acceptability ratings indicated that Facing Your Fears Therapy was viewed favorably, and critiques were incorporated into program revisions. Meaningful reductions in anxiety were reported posttreatment for 53% of children. Results support the initial effectiveness and transportability of Facing Your Fears Therapy in new clinical settings.
University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Denver, USA Judy.Reaven@ucdenver.edu.
Judy
J
Reaven
University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Denver, USA.
Audrey
A
Blakeley-Smith
IWK Health Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Tricia L
TL
Beattie
IWK Health Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
April
A
Sullivan
University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Denver, USA.
Eric J
EJ
Moody
University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Denver, USA.
Jessica A
JA
Stern
University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Denver, USA.
Susan L
SL
Hepburn
IWK Health Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Department of Pediatrics and Psychology & Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada.
Isabel M
IM
Smith
D000293:Adolescent; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy*; D002170:Canada; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000150:complications*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004493:Education; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States
anxiety; autism; cognitive-behavioral treatments; transportability; treatment dissemination