title: Conceptualizing and Treating Social Anxiety in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Focus Group Study with Multidisciplinary Professionals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Individuals who have autism spectrum disorders (ASD) commonly experience social anxiety (SA). Disentangling SA symptoms from core ASD characteristics is complex, partly due to diagnostic overshadowing and co-occurring alexithymia. Causal and maintaining mechanisms for SA in ASD are underexplored, but it is feasible that there is an ASD specificity to the clinical presentation, with implications for the development of targeted treatments.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five focus groups were conducted with multidisciplinary professionals to investigate their perspectives about, and approaches to, working with individuals with ASD and SA. Data were analysed thematically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data analysis revealed two overarching themes: conceptualizing SA in ASD and service provision. Our results suggest that adaptations to service provision are pertinent, so as to accommodate inherent impairments that can mediate assessment and intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Future studies should establish how aspects of the care pathway can be improved for individuals with ASD and SA.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.|South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Debbie
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Spain
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Freya
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rumball
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Lucy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: O'Neill
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.|St George's, University of London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sin
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Prunty
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Happé
mesh_terms: D001007:Anxiety / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D036301:Qualitative Research
keywords: Asperger's syndrome; autism spectrum disorder; qualitative study; social anxiety; social phobia