title: The People with Asperger syndrome and anxiety disorders (PAsSA) trial: a pilot multicentre, single-blind randomised trial of group cognitive-behavioural therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is a growing interest in using cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) with people who have Asperger syndrome and comorbid mental health problems.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine whether modified group CBT for clinically significant anxiety in an Asperger syndrome population is feasible and likely to be efficacious.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a randomised assessor-blind trial, 52 individuals with Asperger syndrome were randomised into a treatment arm or a waiting-list control arm. After 24 weeks, those in the waiting-list control arm received treatment, while those initially randomised to treatment were followed up for 24 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The conversion rate for this trial was high (1.6:1), while attrition was 13%. After 24 weeks, there was no significant difference between those randomised to the treatment arm compared with those randomised to the waiting-list control arm on the primary outcome measure, the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Trials of psychological therapies with this population are feasible. Larger definitive trials are now needed.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  None.
  © The Royal College of Psychiatrists 2016. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) licence.
authors.affiliation: , DClinPsy, PhD, Tizard Centre, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK; Broadland Clinic, Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust in Norfolk, Norwich, UK.
authors.forename: Peter E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Langdon
authors.affiliation: , PhD, Tizard Centre, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK, and Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, Dartford, UK.
authors.forename: Glynis H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.affiliation: , PhD, Department of Population Health and Primary Care, Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.
authors.forename: Lee
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shepstone
authors.affiliation: , PhD, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Edward C F
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: , MSc, School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fowler
authors.affiliation: , ClinPsyD, Department of Clinical Psychology, Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, and Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, Norwich, UK.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Heavens
authors.affiliation: , MSc, Tizard Centre, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK.
authors.forename: Aida
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malovic
authors.affiliation: , BSc (Hons).
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.affiliation: , BSc (Hons), Department of Clinical Psychology, Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK, and Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, Norwich, UK.
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.affiliation: , BSc (Hons), Department of Clinical Psychology, Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK, and Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust in Norfolk, Norwich, UK.
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mullineaux