Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment for Anxiety Disorders in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders

Completed · Phase 2/Phase 3

Conditions studied: Autism, Asperger's Syndrome, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Social Phobia, Separation Anxiety Disorder, Obsessive-compulsive Disorder

In brief

Autism spectrum disorders affect as many as 1 out of 150 children and are related to significant impairment in social, adaptive, and school functioning. Co-occurring conditions, such as anxiety, are common and may cause substantial distress and impairment beyond that caused by the autism diagnosis. Although effective interventions have been developed for typically developing youth with anxiety disorders, this approach needs to be adapted for children with autism. Accordingly, we are proposing a randomized controlled trial to examine the effectiveness of CBT relative to treatment as usual (TAU) in 46 youth ages 7-11 with autism spectrum disorders and comorbid anxiety disorder(s).

Key facts

Study ID

NCT01178385

Run by

University of South Florida

People needed

45

Starts

2010-04-01

Expected to finish

2012-12-01

Last updated by the study team

2013-04-02

Who can join

Age: 7 and older, up to 11. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Outpatient children with an autism spectrum disorder (see #2 below) between the ages 7-11years.
• Meets criteria for a diagnosis of autism, Asperger syndrome (AS), or PDD-NOS using scores from the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised and Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule.
• Meets DSM-IV criteria for a diagnosis of one of the following anxiety disorders: separation anxiety disorder (SAD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social phobia, or obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) as determined by the ADIS-IV-C/P (with CSR 4) and all available information.
• Minimum score of 14 on the PARS Severity Scale; this score indicates clinically significant anxiety symptom severity (RUPP, 2002) and has been used in recent major clinical trials (e.g., Walkup et al., 2008).
• Child has a Full Scale and Verbal Comprehension IQ > 70 as assessed on a commonly used IQ test.
• Subjects with co-morbid depression, ADHD, tic disorder or disruptive behavior disorders will be acceptable as long as the anxiety disorder is primary (i.e., most impairing/distressing).

You may not qualify if…

• Receiving concurrent psychotherapy, social skills training, or behavioral interventions (e.g., applied behavior analysis). Families will have the option of discontinuing such services to enroll in the study. Those randomized to TAU will be able to continue or initiate psychosocial interventions (psychotherapy, social skills training, applied behavior analysis, or family therapy) whereas those randomized to CBT will not receive these interventions concurrent with CBT.
• New Treatments: Initiation of an antidepressant within 12 weeks before study enrollment or an antipsychotic 8 weeks before study enrollment. No new alternative medications, nutritionals or therapeutic diets within 8 weeks of study enrollment.
• Established Treatment changes: Any change in established psychotropic medication (e.g., antidepressants, anxioloytics) within 8 weeks before study enrollment, or any change in alternative medications that might have behavioral effects within 6 weeks prior to the study baseline assessment. Those randomized to TAU may make medication changes following randomization, including starting a medication; those randomized to CBT will remain stable on medications during the study.
• (a) Current clinically significant suicidality or (b) individuals who have engaged in suicidal behaviors within 6 months will be excluded and referred for appropriate clinical intervention.
• Lifetime DSM-IV bipolar, schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorders; or Substance abuse in past 6 months.
• Unwillingness of parents to make the commitment to accompany their child for multiple study visits.
• Presence of a significant and/or unstable medical illness which might lead to hospitalization during the study.

Where it is running

• Rothman Center for Neuropsychiatry, University of South Florida — St. Petersburg, Florida, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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