A Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Intervention for Anxiety in Children with Asperger's Syndrome

By Kate Sofronoff and Tony Attwood - Good Autism Practice 4, 228, 2003

Abstract
Children and adults with Asperger's Syndrome and other autistic spectrum disorders frequently experience higher levels of anxiety and stress then the general neurotypical population. Finding ways in which they can be taught to recognise their levels of anxiety and to manage these feelings is therefore very important. In this paper, two clinical psychologists, Dr Kate Sofronoff and Dr Tony Attwood describe some of the methods they have developed and used with children with Asperger's Syndrome to understand and manage their emotions. They provide evaluative data from the children and their parents.

Sixty-five children aged between ten and twelve years of age, took part and their parents were involved in this work to differing degrees. Measures were taken on three occasions, pre intervention, immediately post intervention and at six weeks follow up. Two forms of the intervention were completed, on e in which only the children participated but parents were given written materials, and a second; in which parents were taught all strategies and information in the same manner as the children. The intervention groups were compared with the waiting list control group; limitations of the study as well as suggestions for future research are discussed.