title: An Initial Case Series of Intensive Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
abstract: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is prevalent among youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with ASD-specific modifications has support for treating OCD in this population; however, use of intensive CBT in youth with ASD and severe OCD has not been tested. The current study examined the preliminary effectiveness of an individualized intensive CBT protocol for OCD in adolescents with ASD. Nine adolescents (aged 11-17 years) completed a regimen of intensive CBT (range 24-80 daily sessions) incorporating exposure with response prevention (ERP). Treatment materials, language and techniques were modified in accordance with evidence-based findings for this population. Seven of nine participants (78%) were treatment responders, and large treatment effects (d = 1.35-2.58) were obtained on primary outcomes (e.g., obsessive-compulsive symptom severity). Preliminary findings suggest that an intensive CBT approach for OCD is effective among adolescents with ASD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain. miniesta@ucam.edu.|Department of Education, Catholic University of Murcia, 35 Campus de los Jerónimos, 30107, Guadalupe, Spain. miniesta@ucam.edu.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3588-4825
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iniesta-Sepúlveda
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL, USA.|Rogers Memorial Hospital, Oconomowoc, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Joshua M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Nadeau
authors.affiliation: Rogers Memorial Hospital, Oconomowoc, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Amaya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.affiliation: Rogers Memorial Hospital, Oconomowoc, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kay
authors.affiliation: Rogers Memorial Hospital, Oconomowoc, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Bradley C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Riemann
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL, USA.|Rogers Memorial Hospital, Oconomowoc, WI, USA.|Department of Health Policy and Management, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.|Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL, USA.|Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL, USA.|All Children's Hospital - Johns Hopkins Medicine, St. Petersburg, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Eric A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Storch
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000150:complications*; D002648:Child; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D012107:Research Design; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Adolescents; Autism spectrum disorders; Cognitive–behavioral therapy; Intensive treatment; Obsessive–compulsive disorder