Parent-Led Cognitive Behavioral Teletherapy for Anxiety in Autistic Youth: A Randomized Trial Comparing Two Levels of Therapist Support.

Parent-led cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an efficient, promising form of therapy that may be well suited for autistic youth with anxiety disorders, though to date it has been minimally tested. In this study, 87 autistic youth (7 to 13 years old) with anxiety disorders and their parents were randomized to two forms of parent-led CBT in which parents led their child through a guided CBT workbook across 12 weeks: one with low therapist contact (four 30-minute telehealth calls), and one with standard therapist contact (ten 60-minute telehealth calls). Anxiety, functional impairment, and autism features significantly declined across therapy, without differences between groups. High satisfaction was reported in both groups, though significantly higher satisfaction ratings were reported in standard-contact CBT. Responder rates were 69% of completers at posttreatment (70% in standard contact, 68% in low contact) and 86% at 3-month follow-up (86% in standard contact, 87% in low contact). Low-contact CBT was estimated to incur an average cost of $755.70 per family compared with $1,978.34 in standard-contact CBT. Parent-led CBT with minimal or standard therapist contact both appear to be effective CBT delivery formats for autistic youth with anxiety disorders, with significant cost savings for low-contact CBT.

Perceived worsening of obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms after childbirth in women and men: An understudied phenomenon.

The aim of this study was to examine worsening of OCD symptoms after childbirth in individuals seeking assessment or treatment of OCD. The postpartum period may make parents biologically and psychologically vulnerable to OCD symptoms. Participants included 222 parents with OCD who completed surveys through a self-help website. Most women and almost half of men with self-reported OCD reported an increase in OCD symptoms following childbirth. Retrospective report of perceived worsening of OCD symptoms after childbirth was associated with more aggressive obsessions for both men and women, in comparison to individuals whose OCD symptoms did not worsen around childbirth. Women whose OCD symptoms worsened after childbirth reported more impairment in social functioning than individuals whose symptoms did not worsen. These results highlight the need to develop a better understanding of aggressive obsessions in parents, and improve education about prevalence, content, assessment, and intervention for aggression-focused intrusive thoughts.

Efficacy and acceptability of cognitive-behavioral therapy and serotonin reuptake inhibitors for pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder: a network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs) are recommended treatments for pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), but their relative efficacy and acceptability have not been comprehensively examined. Further, it remains unclear whether the efficacy of in-person CBT is conserved when delivered in other formats, such as over telephone/webcam or as Internet-delivered CBT (ICBT). METHODS: PubMed, PsycINFO, trial registries, and previous systematic reviews were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing CBT (in-person, webcam/telephone-delivered, or ICBT) or SRIs with control conditions or each other. Network meta-analyses were conducted to examine efficacy (post-treatment Children's Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale) and acceptability (treatment discontinuation). Confidence in effect estimates was evaluated with CINeMA (Confidence in Network Meta-Analysis). RESULTS: Thirty eligible RCTs and 35 contrasts comprising 2,057 youth with OCD were identified. In-person CBT was significantly more efficacious than ICBT, waitlist, relaxation training, and pill placebo (MD range: 3.95-11.10; CINeMA estimate of confidence: moderate) but did not differ significantly from CBT delivered via webcam/telephone (MD: 0.85 [-2.51, 4.21]; moderate), SRIs (MD: 3.07 [-0.07, 6.20]; low), or the combination of in-person CBT and SRIs (MD: -1.20 [-5.29, 2.91]; low). SRIs were significantly more efficacious than pill placebo (MD: 4.59 [2.70, 6.48]; low) and waitlist (MD: 8.03 [4.24, 11.82]; moderate). No significant differences for acceptability emerged, but confidence in estimates was low. CONCLUSIONS: In-person CBT and SRIs produce clear benefits compared to waitlist and pill placebo and should be integral parts of the clinical management of pediatric OCD, with in-person CBT overall having a stronger evidence base. The combination of in-person CBT and SRIs may be most efficacious, but few studies hinder firm conclusions. The efficacy of CBT appears conserved when delivered via webcam/telephone, while more trials evaluating ICBT are needed.

Psychosocial Outcomes of Pain and Pain Management in Adults with Osteogenesis Imperfecta: A Qualitative Study.

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a genetic disorder characterized by bone fragility and fractures, short stature, dental abnormalities, hearing loss, scoliosis, and chronic pain. Despite a growing literature on the functional outcomes of OI, limited research has explicitly examined the psychosocial outcomes of pain within OI. Adults with OI (N = 15) were interviewed to understand pain-related experiences through a thematic analysis of semi-structured interview data. Research team members, genetic research experts, and OI clinicians developed an interview guide focused on topics related to pain and mental health challenges. Participants' transcripts were coded by two independent coders; codes were then merged across coders and quotation outputs were subsequently abstracted (paraphrased then thematically classified) to identify common themes. Themes related to pain management variability regarding pain type, pain risk management and accessibility, pain outcomes (e.g., behavior, cognitive, affective), and pain exacerbating factors (e.g., individual, contextual) were identified. Participants reported chronic and acute pain, and despite the inaccessibility and stigmatization of pain medications (e.g., opioids), pharmacological treatments were the most common pain management approach. Participants reported negative pain outcomes, such as limited daily functioning and activity participation, fear, anger, anxiety, depression, and difficulty concentrating. Lastly, participants suggested that lack of physician and community knowledge on chronic pain in OI indirectly exacerbates both subjective pain intensity and outcomes. Although limited by a small, nondiverse sample, the current study provides valuable exploration of the unique pain experiences of adults with OI that may have implications for proactive management, treatment development, and clinician training.

Depressive Symptoms in Autistic Youth with Anxiety Disorders.

OBJECTIVE: Anxiety and depression often coexist in youth and share overlapping symptomatology; however, little is known about the comorbidity of anxiety and depression in autistic youth. This study explores (1) the frequency of depressive symptoms among autistic children with clinically significant anxiety, (2) clinical variables that may be associated with elevated depressive symptoms, and (3) whether pretreatment depressive symptoms predict cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) outcomes for anxiety. METHOD: Children aged 7 to 13 years (N = 87) and their parents participated in a randomized controlled trial comparing 2 versions of a parent-led, telehealth-delivered CBT program. Parents and children completed a variety of clinical assessments and self-report questionnaires before and after treatment. RESULTS: Fifty-seven percent of the child sample reported experiencing elevated depressive symptoms while roughly 20% of parents reported elevated depressive symptoms in their child. A strong association between anxiety and depression was found. Heightened feelings of loneliness, per child report, and functional impairment, per parent report, were found to be uniquely associated with elevated depressive symptoms. Finally, depressive symptoms were not a significant predictor of CBT outcomes for anxiety. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest high degrees of comorbidity between anxiety and depression among autistic children and that feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and functional impairment may be early indicators of mood-related concerns. Further research is needed to determine the full extent of the association between anxiety and depression and additional options for treating depression in autistic children.

Depressive Symptoms in Autistic Youth with Anxiety Disorders.

OBJECTIVE: Anxiety and depression often coexist in youth and share overlapping symptomatology; however, little is known about the comorbidity of anxiety and depression in autistic youth. This study explores (1) the frequency of depressive symptoms among autistic children with clinically significant anxiety, (2) clinical variables that may be associated with elevated depressive symptoms, and (3) whether pretreatment depressive symptoms predict cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) outcomes for anxiety. METHOD: Children aged 7 to 13 years (N = 87) and their parents participated in a randomized controlled trial comparing 2 versions of a parent-led, telehealth-delivered CBT program. Parents and children completed a variety of clinical assessments and self-report questionnaires before and after treatment. RESULTS: Fifty-seven percent of the child sample reported experiencing elevated depressive symptoms while roughly 20% of parents reported elevated depressive symptoms in their child. A strong association between anxiety and depression was found. Heightened feelings of loneliness, per child report, and functional impairment, per parent report, were found to be uniquely associated with elevated depressive symptoms. Finally, depressive symptoms were not a significant predictor of CBT outcomes for anxiety. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest high degrees of comorbidity between anxiety and depression among autistic children and that feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and functional impairment may be early indicators of mood-related concerns. Further research is needed to determine the full extent of the association between anxiety and depression and additional options for treating depression in autistic children.

Factors associated with internalizing and externalizing symptoms in a clinical sample of youth with misophonia.

Misophonia is an often chronic condition characterized by strong, unpleasant emotional reactions when exposed to specific auditory or visual triggers. While not currently defined within existing classification systems, and not clearly fitting within the framework of extant psychiatric conditions, misophonia has historically been studied most frequently within the context of obsessive-compulsive and related disorders. Internalizing and externalizing psychiatric symptoms are common in misophonia, but specific factors that confer risk for these symptoms remain unknown. The present cross-sectional study examined whether sensory sensitivity and cognitive emotion regulation facets are associated with co-occurring internalizing and externalizing symptoms in 102 youth with misophonia aged 8-17 years (Nfemales = 69). Participants completed self-report assessments of misophonia severity, sensory sensitivity, cognitive emotion regulation, and emotional-behavioral functioning. In the final model, controlling for all variables, multiple linear regression analyses revealed that sensory sensitivity and age were significant predictors of internalizing symptoms, while sensory sensitivity and the other-blame cognitive emotion regulation facet were significant predictors of externalizing symptoms. Further, findings demonstrated that the positive reappraisal cognitive emotion regulation facet moderated the effect of misophonia severity on internalizing symptoms. Results highlight a strong, consistent relation between sensory sensitivities (beyond sound sensitivity) and psychiatric symptoms in misophonic youth. Further research is necessary to determine mechanisms and clinical variables impacting internalizing and externalizing symptoms within youth with misophonia.

Psychometric properties of the revised children's anxiety and depression scale (RCADS) for autistic youth without co-occurring intellectual disability.

Autistic youth often present with comorbid anxiety and depression yet there is a dearth of validated assessment tools. The Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS) assesses internalizing symptoms but there is little psychometric data in autistic youth. Treatment-seeking autistic youth with anxiety or obsessive-compulsive symptoms (N = 74; age 6-14 years), and caregivers, were administered the RCADS-Parent, RCADS-Child, and assessments of internalizing, externalizing symptoms and social impairment indicative of autism. RCADS-Parent and RCADS-Child total anxiety scores demonstrated excellent internal consistency, and the six subscales demonstrated acceptable-to-good internal consistency. The RCADS-Child and Parent total anxiety scores were weakly correlated, and neither child age nor gender altered the strength of this association. Convergent validity was supported by moderate-to-strong correlations with clinician and parent-reported anxiety symptoms. Support for divergent validity was mixed. Results provide support for the RCADS-Parent and RCADS-Child as reliable, valid measures of internalizing symptoms in autistic youth.

COVID-19-related intrusive thoughts and associated ritualistic behaviors.

This study evaluated COVID-19-related intrusive thoughts and associated ritualistic behaviors (CITRB). From March to May 2020, 1,118 Chinese high school students, college students, psychiatric outpatients, and community members completed a survey assessing CITRB, generalized anxiety, depression, somatization, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and pandemic-related disruptions. Overall, participants reported mild to moderate CITRB, although certain thoughts/behaviors were more frequently endorsed, such as repeatedly telling others to take precautions against COVID-19 and checking COVID-19-related news. Being male, younger, a health-care worker, or in isolation/quarantine was associated with CITRB severity in community members. Obsessive-compulsive symptom severity, depression, somatic symptoms, and anxiety were associated with CITRB severity, although only obsessive-compulsive symptoms were uniquely associated with CITRB. This study provided evidence for the construct of CITRB, which may help mental health providers identify the nature and sources of COVID-19-related distress for some individuals as well as serve as a framework for evaluating obsessive-compulsive symptoms specific to large-scale crises.

Geospatial Distribution of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Specialists: Understanding Access as a Function of Distance, Insurance Status, and Neighborhood Socioeconomic Status.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is an impairing psychiatric condition affecting 1-2% of adults and youth. Cognitive-behavioral therapy with exposure and response prevention (CBT) is an efficacious intervention but requires specialty training and access is often limited. While certain factors are associated with treatment access, one key barrier that has not been explored is the geographic availability of OCD treatment providers. Using integrated geographically-referenced data, we examined the geographic distribution of OCD CBT specialty providers across the state of Texas, with particular attention to the relationship to neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage, insurance status, and rural versus urban status. We found that specialist providers are almost exclusively located inside the highly urbanized parts of the state, primarily in more affluent areas, and often only accept self-pay. The characteristics of the areas located the furthest away from specialty OCD care include a high proportion of persons identifying as Hispanic; a high proportion of non-English speakers, households with income below poverty; households with no vehicles; and persons with no health insurance. Average household income decreased as distances from specialist providers increased. Broadly, findings confirm that OCD CBT specialty providers are clustered in large socially advantaged areas and that economic disadvantage remains a significant barrier to care. As inadequate or inappropriate treatment of OCD is likely to result in sustained and impairing symptoms, this is of great concern.

Measuring misophonia in youth: A psychometric evaluation of child and parent measures.

BACKGROUND: Misophonia is characterized by intense emotional reactions to specific sounds or visual stimuli and typically onsets during childhood. An obstacle for research and clinical practice is that no comprehensively evaluated measures for pediatric misophonia exist. METHODS: In a sample of 102 youth meeting the proposed diagnostic criteria of misophonia, we evaluated the child and parent-proxy versions of the self-reported Misophonia Assessment Questionnaire (MAQ; assessing broad aspects of misophonia) and the child version of the Amsterdam Misophonia Scale (A-MISO-S; assessing misophonia severity). Confirmatory and exploratory factor analysis were used to examine factor structures of the measures. Further, child-parent agreement on the MAQ and associations between both measures and misophonia-related impairment, quality of life, and misophonia-related school interference were examined to evaluate aspects of convergent validity. RESULTS: For both youth- and parent-ratings, four MAQ factors emerged: pessimism, distress, interference, and non-recognition. A-MISO-S showed a unidimensional structure, but the item 'effort to resist' did not load significantly onto the unidimensional factor. Good child-parent agreement on the MAQ scales were found and both MAQ and A-MISO-S were moderately to strongly associated with misophonia-related impairment, quality of life (inverse association), and misophonia-related school interference. LIMITATIONS: MAQ and A-MISO-S assess sensitivity to auditory but not visual stimuli, the sample size was modest, and repeated assessments were not conducted. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of MAQ and A-MISO-S shows promise as a multidimensional assessment approach for pediatric misophonia. Future evaluations should include known-groups validity, screening performance, and sensitivity to change in symptom severity.

A qualitative exploration of patient perspectives on psychosocial burdens and positive factors in adults with osteogenesis imperfecta.

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a pleiotropic, heritable connective tissue disorder associated with a wide range of health implications, including frequent bone fracture. While progress has been made to understand the spectrum of these physical health implications, the impact of OI on psychosocial well-being, as well as protective factors that buffer against adverse psychosocial outcomes, remain understudied. This present study relies on a qualitative approach to assess patient perspectives on both protective and adverse psychosocial factors specific to OI in 15 adults with varying disease status. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, subsequently coded, and themes extracted. Themes concerning psychosocial burdens (i.e., negative affective and behavioral impacts of disease status) and protective factors were identified from cooperatively-coded transcripts (two coders per transcript). Participants reported experiencing an increase in negative affect and disease-related distress after fracturing a bone and during recovery. Fear and concern specific to the uncertainty of future bone fractures and negative self-image was common. In contrast to these negative impacts, participants additionally described positive orientations toward their disease and attributed positive traits to their lived experience with a chronic disease. While limited due to small sample size and lack of ethno-racial diversity, findings highlight a need for continued research on the relationship between OI disease status and psychosocial outcomes, as well as the development of psychological interventions designed for OI populations. Findings have relevant clinical applications for healthcare providers working with those diagnosed with OI.

Development and pilot testing of internet-delivered, family-based cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders in autistic youth.

Cognitive behavioral therapy adapted for autistic youth with anxiety and/or OCD has a strong evidence base, but few have access. A 12-week family-based, Internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) program for 7-15 year-old autistic youth with anxiety and/or OCD was developed as a potential method to address this problem. Quantitative and qualitative feedback from stakeholders (parents, youth, clinicians) was gathered on an initial draft of content before conducting a pilot trial. This feedback suggested high quality, engagement, usability, and informativeness of the material. Suggestions were incorporated into the treatment program that was tested in a pilot trial. Eight families were randomized to the iCBT program with either 1) weekly email support or 2) weekly email support plus biweekly telehealth check-ins, and seven of these families completed pre- and post-treatment assessments. An average reduction of 39% in anxiety severity was found, with six of the seven being classified as responders. Preliminary evidence suggests that family-based iCBT is an acceptable and promising treatment for autistic youth with anxiety and/or obsessive-compulsive disorders that should be further modified and tested in future work.

Clinical characteristics, impairment, and psychiatric morbidity in 102 youth with misophonia.

BACKGROUND: There is little information on the clinical presentation, functional impact, and psychiatric characteristics of misophonia in youth, an increasingly recognized syndrome characterized by high emotional reactivity to certain sounds and associated visual stimuli. METHOD: One-hundred-two youth (8-17 years-old) with misophonia and their parents were recruited and compared with 94 youth with anxiety disorders. Participants completed validated assessments of misophonia severity, quality of life, as well as psychiatric symptoms and diagnoses. RESULTS: The most common misophonia triggers included eating (96 %), breathing (84 %), throat sounds (66 %), and tapping (54 %). Annoyance/irritation, verbal aggression, avoidance behavior, and family impact were nearly universal. Misophonia severity was associated with internalizing symptoms, child-reported externalizing behaviors, and poorer quality of life. High rates of comorbidity with internalizing and neurodevelopmental disorders were found. Quality of life and externalizing behaviors were not significantly different between misophonia and anxiety samples; internalizing symptoms and autism characteristics were significantly higher among youth with anxiety disorders. LIMITATIONS: This self-selected sample was characterized by limited multicultural diversity. CONCLUSIONS: This study presents misophonia as a highly impairing psychiatric syndrome. Future interdisciplinary work should clarify the mechanisms of misophonia, establish evidence-based treatments, and extend these findings to randomly sampled and more culturally diverse populations.

A Content Analysis of Self-report Child Anxiety Measures.

A clear understanding of the item content of psychological assessments is critical but often overlooked. This study describes the content overlap of seven commonly used and psychometrically validated measures of anxiety among children and adolescents. Symptom codes were created for all items across measures and items were sorted by these codes, which all fell into specific symptom categories. We conducted two analyses of all items: a "bottom-up" content categorization approach, which used symptom categories that were developed during this study, and a "top-down" DSM-5 categorization which mapped items onto symptoms of anxiety disorders in the DSM-5. Findings reveal a weak mean overlap across the included measures of youth anxiety. This suggests that the scope of anxiety measures should be carefully considered when designing studies, interpreting research, or assessing youth in clinical practice. Further research is needed to develop and establish a coding scheme for a more objective, comprehensive content analysis.

Change during cognitive and exposure phases of cognitive-behavioral therapy for autistic youth with anxiety disorders.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate improvement during the (a) cognitive and (b) exposure therapy phases of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for autistic youth with anxiety disorders. METHOD: Participants were 148 autistic youth (aged 7-13; 77% male; 64% White) with clinically significant anxiety who were randomized to standard or adapted CBT. Clinician-rated anxiety severity was recorded at each appointment. Trajectories of change during (a) the cognitive phase and (b) the exposure phase of treatment were analyzed using piecewise multilevel modeling. RESULTS: Compared to the psychoeducation and cognitive therapy phases, the exposure phase corresponded with significantly more rapid symptom reduction, b = -.11, 95% CI [-.13, -.071]. This finding was true for standard CBT, which included nine sessions prior to exposure initiation (on average), as well as for CBT personalized for autistic youth, which introduced exposure following the fifth session (on average). In contrast, compared with improvements during initial psychoeducation sessions, the introduction of cognitive skills corresponded with significantly slower symptom reduction, b = .066, 95% CI [.020, .11]. This finding was also true for both adapted and standard CBT. CONCLUSIONS: Results underscore the central role of exposure in the treatment of anxiety among autistic youth and question the utility of cognitive strategies without subsequent practice of these skills during exposure. Assuming a working relationship, therapists should consider moving through the preexposure coping phase of CBT quickly. Future research should evaluate the extent to which exposure can maintain its potency while minimizing coping skill preparation. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Stepped-Care Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Children on the Autism Spectrum with Co-occurring Anxiety.

This trial examined stepped-care cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT) among 96 autistic youth with co-occurring anxiety. Step 1 included an open trial of parent-led, therapist-guided bibliotherapy. Step 2 was family-based CBT for those who did not respond to Step 1 or maintenance for those who did. Eighteen participants (28%) who completed Step 1 responded. Responders reported significantly lower pre-treatment anxiety, internalizing symptoms, and functional impairment than non-responders. After Steps 1 and 2, 80% of completers (55% intent-to-treat) were responders. Anxiety, impairment, and ASD-related impairments significantly improved. Youth in maintenance experienced faster improvement through post-treatment, though there were no group differences at 3-month-follow-up. A stepped approach may help some individuals in Step 1, particularly those who are less anxious.

Perceptions of various treatment approaches for adults and children with misophonia.

OBJECTIVE: Misophonia is a complex disorder characterized by a heightened reaction to certain sounds and associated stimuli. While there is no uniformly accepted treatment to date, different intervention approaches are being investigated. Individual's perceptions of different misophonia treatment methods may affect compliance and satisfaction with treatment options. We sought to gather data on patient perceptions of currently available misophonia treatments. METHODS: Using an online survey, we collected data about treatment preferences, treatment usage, and diagnosis history from parents of children with misophonia (N = 141) and adults with misophonia (N = 252). RESULTS: Most respondents were not satisfied with misophonia treatments that they or their children had previously received. Audiologic interventions including active and passive noise cancelling and lifestyle modifications were rated as most appropriate for treatment of misophonia by both parent and adult respondents. LIMITATIONS: Because of the descriptive nature of this study, we chose to use a completer-only approach to ensure the data reflect the true responses of participants, though this did result in a meaningful proportion of missing data. Participants were selected through convenience sampling and responses were self-reported. Individuals with more severe misophonia symptoms may be more likely to participate and complete a research survey. CONCLUSIONS: Most interventions are considered inappropriate by parents of youth with misophonia and by adults with misophonia. This should be interpreted in the light of a general lack of misophonia-specific interventions. Findings suggest dissatisfaction with currently available treatments and an opportunity for development of effective treatment strategies corresponding to participants' preferences. Deeper understanding of treatment preferences has the potential to guide future treatment development.

Optimizing Obsessive-Compulsive Symptom Measurement With the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scales-Second Edition.

The Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) is a widely used measure for assessing the presence and severity of obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms. The Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale-Second Edition (Y-BOCS-II) was developed, in part, to more comprehensively evaluate symptom severity, especially in extremely ill patients, and improve consistency in detecting and incorporating avoidance behaviors. We present 3 case studies that demonstrate the enhanced ability of the Y-BOCS-II to: (1) detect fluctuations in symptom severity among extremely ill patients, (2) systematically incorporate avoidance variables for more accurate ratings, and (3) maintain strong convergence with the Y-BOCS in assessing patients presenting with mild to moderate symptoms. In addition, we outline how to obtain both Y-BOCS and Y-BOCS-II scores within 1 administration by adding Y-BOCS item 4 to the Y-BOCS-II assessment, then "back-coding" the Y-BOCS-II ratings to Y-BOCS ratings and using Y-BOCS item 4 in place of Y-BOCS-II item 2. The use of this method allows for more robust data collection while providing comparability across the literature.