Training clinicians to deliver group CBT to manage anxiety in youth with ASD: Results of a multisite trial.

OBJECTIVE: Few guidelines are available regarding optimal training models for practitioners delivering cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for anxiety in youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The present study systematically compared 3 instructional conditions for delivering the Facing Your Fears program (FYF) to children with ASD and anxiety. METHOD: Thirty-four clinicians (Mage = 34 years; 94% women, 88% Caucasian) and an intent-to-treat sample of 91 children with ASD and anxiety (Mage = 11; 84% male 53% Caucasian) met eligibility criteria across 4 sites. A 3-group parallel design via a Latin square procedure was used to randomize 9 teams of clinicians to 1 of 3 training conditions: Manual, Workshop, Workshop-Plus. The effectiveness of instructional condition was assessed via implementation (CBT knowledge, treatment fidelity) and treatment outcomes (reductions in anxiety as measured by the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule-Parent (ADIS-P). RESULTS: Clinicians in both Workshop conditions significantly increased CBT knowledge postworkshop, F(1, 18) = 19.8, p < .001. Excellent treatment fidelity was obtained across conditions (above 89%), although clinicians in the Workshop conditions obtained significantly higher fidelity ratings and delivered FYF with greater quality than the Manual condition. Children with ASD demonstrated significant reductions in anxiety symptoms for three of the four anxiety diagnoses, with no differences noted across instructional condition. Rates of improvement were lower than those obtained in a previous controlled trial. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that although there may be some advantage to participating in a Workshop, clinicians in all conditions could deliver FYF with excellent fidelity and yield positive treatment outcomes. Lack of a no-treatment comparison group limits interpretation of findings. (PsycINFO Database Record

Caregiver-mediated approaches to managing challenging behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorder.

A significant proportion of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are referred to mental health centers due to the presence of challenging behaviors. Because challenging behaviors in children and adolescents with ASD often result from underlying social and communication difficulties and comorbid anxiety, traditional caregiver-mediated behavior intervention techniques developed for children with disruptive behavior disorders may need to be adapted for this population. Behavioral interventions that target communication skills, social skills, anxiety, and sensory responsiveness in children with ASD may be needed. Notably, while best practice necessitates the involvement of caregivers in treating children and adolescents with ASD, few randomized control studies have examined the effectiveness of caregiver-implemented interventions in reducing challenging behaviors. This review summarizes the current literature with regard to caregiver-mediated behavioral interventions for children with ASD, and suggests areas for intervention development and research.

Una proporción importante de niños con trastorno del espectro autista (TEA) son referidos a centros de salud mental debido a la presencia de conductas desafiantes. Dado que las conductas desafiantes en niños y adolescentes con TEA se producen a menudo por dificultades sociales y de comunicación, y ansiedad comórbida subyacentes, las técnicas de intervención conductual tradicionales a cargo de los cuidadores y desarrolladas para niños con trastornos conductuales disruptivos pueden necesitar de una adaptatión para esta población. A la vez, en los niños con TEA pueden ser necesarias las intervenciones conductuales que apunten a herramientas comunicacionales y sociales, ansiedad y sensibilidad sensorial. Es destacable que, a pesar de que la mejor practica requiere del compromise de los cuidadores en el tratamiento de niños y adolescentes con TEA, pocos estudios controlados y randomizados han examinado la eficacia de las intervenciones implementadas por los cuidadores para la reducción de las conductas desafiantes. Esta revisión resume la literatura actual relacionada con las intervenciones conductuales de los cuidadores para niños con TEA y sugiere áreas para el desarrollo de intervenciones e investigación.

Une proportion significative d'enfants présentant des troubles du spectre autistique (TSA) est adressée à des centres de santé mentale du fait de comportements difficiles. Les techniques comportementales habituelles des soignants destinées aux enfants présentant des troubles comportementaux perturbateurs doivent être adaptées aux comportements des enfants et des adolescents souffrant de TSA, qui proviennent souvent de difficultés sociales et de communication ainsi que d'une anxiété comorbide sous-jacentes. Il serait en revanche utile de recourir à des techniques comportementales centrées sur les capacités de communication, les capacités sociales, l'anxiété et la réactivité sensorielle des enfants présentant des TSA. Cependant, alors que les meilleures pratiques nécessitent l'implication des soignants pour traiter les enfants et les adolescents atteints de TSA, seulement quelques études contrôlées randomisées ont analysé l'efficacité des techniques développées par les soignants afin de diminuer les comportements difficiles. Cet article résume la littérature actuelle en ce qui concerne les interventions comportementales des soignants pour les enfants présentant des TSA et donne des pistes pour la recherche et le développement de ces techniques.

Exogenous and endogenous attention orienting in autism spectrum disorders.

Fifteen children with high-functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and 15 children with typical development completed an attentional cuing task using peripheral cues (exogenous orienting) and central cues (endogenous orienting). Results showed that participants with ASD had impaired exogenous and intact endogenous orienting. The pattern of exogenous orienting was related to motor functioning. Individuals with ASD who had poor motor functioning displayed slowed exogenous orienting. However, individuals with ASD who had relatively good motor functioning showed typical levels of exogenous orienting when given a short time but decreased orienting when given a longer amount of time. These results suggest attention impairments in ASD may not be specific to social orienting and instead may represent a more general orienting impairment.