title: A randomized controlled trial of cognitive-behavioral therapy versus treatment as usual for adolescents with autism spectrum disorders and comorbid anxiety.
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).
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, Florida; Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neurosciences, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, Florida; Rogers Behavioral Health, Tampa Bay, Florida; All Children's Hospital, Johns Hopkins Medicine, St. Petersburg, Florida.
authors.forename: Eric A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Storch
authors.forename: Adam B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Lewin
authors.forename: Amanda B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Collier
authors.forename: Elysse
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arnold
authors.forename: Alessandro S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: De Nadai
authors.forename: Brittney F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Dane
authors.forename: Joshua M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Nadeau
authors.forename: P Jane
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Mutch
authors.forename: Tanya K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Murphy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001007:Anxiety / Q000628:therapy; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: adolescents; anxiety; autism spectrum disorder; cognitive-behavioral therapy; obsessive-compulsive disorder