title: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety in Youth with High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders.
abstract: Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) has been developed and modified to treat anxiety symptoms in youth with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders (ASD) but has yielded varying findings. The present report is a systematic review and meta-analysis examining the efficacy of CBT for anxiety among youth with ASD. A systematic search identified 14 studies involving 511 youth with high-functioning ASD. A random effects meta-analysis yielded a statistically significant pooled treatment effect size (g) estimate for CBT (g = -0.71, p < .001) with significant heterogeneity [Q (13) = 102.27, p < .001]. Removal of a study outlier yielded a statistically significant pooled treatment effect size, (g = -0.47, p < .001). Anxiety informant and treatment modality were not statistically significant moderators of treatment response. Findings suggest that CBT demonstrates robust efficacy in reducing anxiety symptoms in youth with high-functioning ASD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., PCD 4118G, Tampa, FL, 33620-7200, USA, danielleung@mail.usf.edu.
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ung
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Selles
authors.forename: Brent J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Small
authors.forename: Eric A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Storch
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000628:therapy; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005196:Family Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D008297:Male; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome