Research has found that children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are at an exceptionally increased risk of developing comorbid mental health conditions, with the most common comorbid mental health conditions reported alongside ASD being anxiety disorders (Brereton, Tonge, & Einfeld, 2006; Skokauskas & Gallagher, 2011). In fact, previous studies have found that anywhere from 11-84% of individuals with ASD experience clinically significant levels of anxiety (White, Oswald, Ollendick, & Scahill, 2009). The ASD population experiences much greater levels of anxiety than typically developing children (APA, 2000). The symptoms associated with anxiety can severely impact a child’s ability to participate in a variety of school, …show more content…
Because of the effectiveness of CBT in individuals with anxiety, many researchers have begun searching for ways to apply CBT techniques to other populations (Olatunji et al., 2010). Because of the unique challenges that children with ASD present, such as poor self-care, poor social and organizational skills, and restricted interests, it is important that CBT be modified to account for these deficits (Klin et al., 2007). In the following studies, CBT has been properly modified to suit children and adolescents with ASD and comorbid anxiety. The central thesis for this research is that cognitive behavioral therapy reduces comorbid anxiety in children and adolescents with autism spectrum …show more content…
In the FYF condition there were both parent and child components to the therapy (Reaven et al., 2012). The children participated in activities such as introductions of common anxiety symptoms and CBT strategies, graded exposure of facing their fears, relaxation and deep breathing techniques, emotional regulation techniques, how to implement anxiety reducing strategies, and social skills (Reaven et al., 2012). The parents’ activities consisted of education on anxiety symptoms, parental coaching, parenting style, and how to deal with potential challenges (Reaven et al., 2012). In this study, the group CBT was modified for children with ASD in order to increase participation and maintain attention by using techniques such as the pacing of sessions, token reinforcement, structure, and predictability (Reaven et al.,