Parent-led, stepped-care cognitive-behavioral therapy for youth with autism and co-occurring anxiety: study rationale and method.

Parent-led, stepped-care cognitive-behavioral therapy for youth with autism and co-occurring anxiety: study rationale and method. Braz J Psychiatry. 2020 Jun 08;: Authors: Ramirez AC, Grebe SC, McNeel MM, Limon DL, Schneider SC, Berry LN, Goin-Kochel RP, Cepeda SL, Voigt RG, Salloum A, Storch EA Abstract Anxiety disorders affect up to 50% of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and are significantly impairing to the person affected, as well as to their loved ones. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) has been established as the gold-standard treatment for anxiety disorders among typically developing youth and adults, and demonstrates similar efficacy among youth with high-functioning autism (HFA). Many CBT interventions utilize a "full-package" treatment approach to treat co-occurring anxiety in youth with ASD. However, these service delivery systems are often therapist-intensive, costly, and impractical, thereby compromising full engagement and treatment adherence. This paper describes the design, rationale, and methodology of a study examining stepped-care CBT for youth with HFA and co-occurring anxiety - a clinical trial examining the efficacy of low-intensity, parent-led CBT as the first line of treatment and utilizing a more intensive, therapist-led intervention for nonresponders. The study will evaluate the potential benefits of stepped-care and parent-led therapist-assisted interventions, predictors of treatment respo...
Source: Revista Brasileira de Psiquiatria - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Tags: Braz J Psychiatry Source Type: research