Development of a Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention Program to Treat Anxiety and Social Deficits in Teens with High-Functioning Autism

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Susan W. White, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University; Anne Marie Albano, Columbia University; Cynthia R. Johnson, University of Pittsburgh; Connie Kasari, Psychological Studies in Education UCLA; Thomas Ollendick, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University; Ami Klin, Emory University; Donald Oswald, Virginia Commonwealth University; Lawrence Scahill, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2010-03-01
• Publisher: Springer (part of Springer Nature): Springer Open Choice Hybrid Journals
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2010.
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10567-009-0062-3
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review
• ISSN: 1096-4037
• Volume: 13
• Issue: 1
• Start Page: 77
• End Page: 90
• Grant/Funding Information: This project was supported by a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health [1K01MH079945-01; PI: S. W. White].
• Keywords: RELATIONSHIP VARIABLES; Psychology; OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER; Intervention; CHILDREN; Autism; Social Sciences; SKILLS INTERVENTIONS; CONTROLLED-TRIAL; Therapy; Psychology, Clinical; Anxiety; ADOLESCENTS; Social skills; TRAINING-PROGRAM; THERAPY; Adolescence; SPECTRUM DISORDERS; ASPERGER-SYNDROME
• Research Categories: Psychology, Clinical; Health Sciences, Mental Health

Abstract

Anxiety is a common co-occurring problem among young people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Characterized by deficits in social interaction, communication problems, and stereotyped behavior and restricted interests, this group of disorders is more prevalent than previously realized. When present, anxiety may compound the social deficits of young people with ASD. Given the additional disability and common co-occurrence of anxiety in ASD, we developed a manual-based cognitive-behavioral treatment program to target anxiety symptoms as well as social skill deficits in adolescents with ASD [Multimodal Anxiety and Social Skills Intervention: MASSI]. In this paper, we describe the foundation, content, and development of MASSI. We also summarize data on treatment feasibility based on a pilot study that implemented the intervention.