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Anxiety Disorders in Typically Developing Youth: Autism Spectrum Symptoms as a Predictor of Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment

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Abstract

Symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) were assessed (Social Responsiveness Scale-Parent (SRS-P); coded in-session behavior) in typically-developing, anxiety-disordered children (N = 50) treated with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Study 1: children with moderate autistic symptomology (per SRS-P) were significantly more likely to improve from family CBT (FCBT) than individual CBT (ICBT; OR = 8.67). Coded behavior did not predict outcome. Study 2: CBT components were compared by treatment and ASD symptom status. At-home exposure completion was greater in FCBT and there was an interaction in child involvement for treatment and ASD status. Though both treatments reduced anxiety, FCBT outperformed ICBT for children with moderate ASD symptoms, a benefit potentially linked to more at-home exposures and greater child involvement in FCBT.

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Notes

  1. A closer examination of therapist treatment adherence in the original RCT revealed that therapists, based on others ratings, may have unintentionally employed some CBT within the FESA condition. This “bleeding” between the CBT and control conditions questioned the distinctiveness of the FESA treatment and its candidacy for further analysis in this study.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by NIMH grant (MH59087) awarded to the second author.

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  1. Psychology Department, Temple University, Weiss Hall, 1701 North 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, USA

    Connor M. Puleo & Philip C. Kendall

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  1. Connor M. Puleo
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  2. Philip C. Kendall
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Correspondence to Connor M. Puleo or Philip C. Kendall.

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Puleo, C.M., Kendall, P.C. Anxiety Disorders in Typically Developing Youth: Autism Spectrum Symptoms as a Predictor of Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment. J Autism Dev Disord 41, 275–286 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-010-1047-2

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