This study tests the effectiveness of a transdiagnostic cognitive behavioral therapy for autistic youth with anxiety and/or depression.
About 1 in 54 adolescents are estimated to be on the autism spectrum, with over half suffering from anxiety or depressive disorders. These disorders contribute to suicidality, family stress, social impairments, and difficulties transitioning to adulthood among autistic youth. Given the frequency of anxiety and depressive disorders among autistic adolescents and the increased risk of impairment, developing effective treatments for anxiety and depression tailored to this population is a top priority. Transdiagnostic cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for other populations, including typically developing adolescents, may confer broader benefits than disorder-specific CBT and facilitate broader dissemination and implementation. However, there has been little research conducted on transdiagnostic treatments among autistic adolescents. Thus, this study proposes to address this gap by testing transdiagnostic CBT for autistic adolescents with anxiety and depression. The study involves two phases: 1) a pilot intervention; and 2) a randomized controlled trial. The pilot intervention will involve 12 adolescent-caregiver dyads to further refine the treatment model and its assessment measures. The randomized trial will involve 100 adolescent-caregiver dyads to further evaluate the clinical efficacy of the treatment.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
47
Adolescent-caregiver dyads will will participate in CBT focused on exposure therapy and behavioral activation. It will also include flexible incorporation of emotion-focused coping and adaptations for autism.
Adolescent-caregiver dyads will participate in coordinated referrals to the community. They may receive psychotherapy and/or initiate or change current psychiatric medication (if applicable).
Baylor Psychiatry Clinic
Houston, Texas, United States
Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale - Parent-Report
Parent-rated child anxiety and depression severity. It is a 47-item scale. Each item is scored on a 0 ("never") to 3 ("always") scale (higher scores correspond to greater severity), yielding a total between 0 and 141.
Time frame: 7 days
Clinical Global Impression - Improvement
Clinician-rated child internalizing symptom improvement since initial rating. A single item is scored 0-6 (0 = very much worse; 6 = very much improved).
Time frame: 7 days
Clinical Global Impression - Severity of Illness
Clinician-rated child internalizing symptom overall severity. A single item is scored 0-6 (0 = no illness; 6 = extremely severe symptoms).
Time frame: 7 days
Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale - Self-Report
Child rated anxiety and depression severity. It is a 47-item scale. Each item is scored on a 0 ("never") to 3 ("always") scale (higher scores correspond to greater severity), yielding a total between 0 and 141.
Time frame: 7 days
Pediatric Anxiety Rating Scale modified for Autism
Clinician-rated child anxiety severity. The rating scale first includes a checklist of common anxiety symptoms that are rated as present/absent and is followed by a severity rating scale with five Likert scale items. Each severity item is scored on a 0 to 5 scale, (higher scores correspond to greater severity), yielding a total between 0 and 30.
Time frame: 7 days
Children's Depression Rating Scale, Revised
Clinician-rated child depression severity. It is a 17-item scale, with items ranging from 1 to 5 or 1 to 7 (higher scores correspond to greater severity), yielding a total between 17 and 113.
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.
Time frame: 7 days