Status:

COMPLETED

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

Lead Sponsor:

University of South Florida

Conditions:

Autism

Asperger's Syndrome

Eligibility:

All Genders

7-11 years

Phase:

PHASE2

PHASE3

Brief Summary

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 c...

Detailed Description

Autism spectrum disorders affect as many as 1 out of 150 children (Centers for Disease Control, 2007), with many higher-functioning children not being diagnosed until elementary school or later (Fombo...

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

  • 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).

Exclusion

  • 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.

Key Trial Info

Start Date :

April 1 2010

Trial Type :

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation :

ACTUAL

End Date :

December 1 2012

Estimated Enrollment :

45 Patients enrolled

Trial Details

Trial ID

NCT01178385

Start Date

April 1 2010

End Date

December 1 2012

Last Update

April 2 2013

Active Locations (1)

Enter a location and click search to find clinical trials sorted by distance.

Page 1 of 1 (1 locations)

1

Rothman Center for Neuropsychiatry, University of South Florida

St. Petersburg, Florida, United States, 33701