Computer- Assisted Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment for Anxiety Disorders in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders (CCAL)
Autism, Asperger's Syndrome, Generalized Anxiety Disorder
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Autism focused on measuring Autism, Asperger's Syndrome, Treatment, Cognitive-behavioral therapy, Anxiety, Children, Therapy
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Outpatient children with an autism spectrum disorder (see #2 below) between the ages 7-12 years.
- Meets criteria for a diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder using scores from the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule and Childhood Autism Rating Scale-II High Functioning Version.
- Meets DSM-IV criteria for a diagnosis of one of the following anxiety disorders: separation anxiety disorder (SAD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social phobia, panic disorder or specific phobia as determined by the ADIS-IV-C/P (with CSR 4) and all available information.
- Minimum score of 12 on the PARS Severity Scale
- Child has a Full Scale and Verbal Comprehension IQ > 85 as assessed on the KBIT-2.
- 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 Criteria:
- 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.
- New Treatments: Initiation of an antidepressant within 10 weeks before study enrollment or an antipsychotic 6 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, anxiolytics) within 6 weeks before study enrollment, or any change in alternative medications that might have behavioral effects within 4 weeks prior to the study baseline assessment.
- (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 or if the computer-assisted CBT is not a good avenue of treatment for the child.
Sites / Locations
- University of South Florida
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
No Intervention
Experimental
Waitlist Condition
Computer Assisted CBT
Children in this condition will withhold from any type of intervention for a period of 12 weeks.
Those who choose to participate will be required to attend 4 assessments - pre-treatment (week 0), mid-treatment (week 8), post-treatment, and a 4th assessment for a 3 month Follow-up. All children regardless of condition will follow the CCBT protocol (Camp Cope-A-lot), which is the computer-assisted intervention being examined in this study. The first 6 levels of this program are skill building levels to be completed by the user. The remaining 6 levels are completed with the therapist and consist of exposure tasks and rehearsal geared toward each child.