Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-gb8f7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T17:48:39.020Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Enhancing CBT for the Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders and Concurrent Anxiety

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 July 2008

Karen M. Sze  and
Jeffrey J. Wood
Karen M. Sze
Affiliation:
University of California, Los Angeles, USA
Jeffrey J. Wood*
Affiliation:
University of California, Los Angeles, USA
*
Reprint requests to Jeffrey Wood, Graduate School of Education and Information Studies, University of California, Moore Hall, Box 951521, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Because anxiety and other concurrent psychological problems are common among children with high-functioning autism and Asperger syndrome, research initiatives have been devoted to the development of efficacious treatments to address the multifaceted needs of youth with this presentation. Emerging research indicates that when carefully adapted to accommodate for the unique needs of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) may be a viable treatment modality. Because inherent features of ASD may compromise the efficacy of traditional CBT, our preliminary work suggests that it may be important to gear intervention efforts towards directly addressing core autism symptoms to promote optimal treatment response. This article describes an evidence-based CBT treatment manual modified and expanded to address core ASD features above and beyond anxiety symptomatology. A case example of a 10-year-old boy with Asperger syndrome is presented with supporting data to illustrate the treatment modifications and their rationale. The positive treatment response attained in this case suggests that an enhanced variant of a standard CBT programme may be an efficacious treatment approach for children with ASD and concurrent anxiety.

Keywords

AnxietyAsperger syndromeautismcognitive-behavioural therapy
Type
Research Article
Information
Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy , Volume 36 , Issue 4: Anxiety of Childhood and Adolescence , July 2008 , pp. 403 - 409
Copyright
Copyright © British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 2008

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Achenbach, T. M. (1991). Child Behavior Checklist. Burlington, VT: University of Vermont.Google Scholar
Attwood, T. (2004). Cognitive behaviour therapy for children and adults with Asperger's syndrome. Behaviour Change, 21, 147–161.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chalfant, A. M., Rapee, R. and Carroll, L. (2007). Treating anxiety disorders in children with high functioning autism spectrum disorders: a controlled trial. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 37, 1842–1857.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gresham, F. M. and Elliot, S. N. (1990). Social Skills Rating System. Circle Pines, MN: American Guidance Service.Google Scholar
Hare, D. J. (1997). The use of cognitive-behavioral therapy with people with Asperger syndrome: a case study. Autism, 1, 215–225.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kendall, P. C. (1994). Treating anxiety disorders in children: results of a randomized clinical trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 62, 100–110.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
March, J. S. (1998). Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children. North Tonawanda, NY: Multi-Health Systems.Google Scholar
Reaven, J. and Hepburn, S. (2003). Cognitive-behavioural treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder in a child with Asperger syndrome: a case report. Autism, 7, 145–164.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rogers, S. J. (1998). Empirically supported comprehensive treatments for young children with autism. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 27, 168–179.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rogers, S. J. (2000). Interventions that facilitate socialization in children with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 30, 399–409.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Silverman, W. K. and Albano, A. M. (1996). The Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule for DSM-IV—Child and Parent Versions. San Antonio, TX: Graywind.Google Scholar
Sofronoff, K., Attwood, T. and Hinton, S. (2005). A randomized controlled trial of CBT intervention for anxiety in children with Asperger syndrome. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 46, 1152–1160.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sparrow, S. S., Balla, D. and Cicchetti, C. (1984). Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales. Circle Pines, MN: American Guidance Services.Google Scholar
Sze, K. M. and Wood, J. J. (2007). Cognitive behavioural treatment of comorbid anxiety disorders and social difficulties in children with high-functioning autism. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, 37, 133–143.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wood, J. J. (2006). Effect of anxiety reduction on children's school performance and social adjustment. Developmental Psychology, 42, 345–349.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wood, J. J., Drahota, A., Sze, K. M., Har, K., Chiu, A. and Langer, D. in press. Cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety in children with autism spectrum disorders: a randomized, controlled trial. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry.Google Scholar
Wood, J. J. and McLeod, B. M. (2008). Child Anxiety Disorders: a treatment manual for practitioners. New York: Norton.Google Scholar
Wood, J. J., Piacentini, J. C., Southam-Gerow, M., Chu, B. C. and Sigman, M. (2006). Family cognitive behavioural therapy for child anxiety disorders. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 45, 314–324.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Submit a response

Comments

No Comments have been published for this article.