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. 2023 Dec;53(12):4711-4718.
doi: 10.1007/s10803-022-05716-7. Epub 2022 Sep 21.

Idiographic Coping Outcomes in Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Co-Occurring Anxiety: Results from the TAASD Study

Lesley A Norris  1   2 , Jonathan C Rabner  3 , Eric A Storch  4 , Jeffrey J Wood  5 , Connor Kerns  6 , Adam B Lewin  7 , Brent J Small  7 , Philip C Kendall  3
Affiliations

Idiographic Coping Outcomes in Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Co-Occurring Anxiety: Results from the TAASD Study

Lesley A Norris et al. J Autism Dev Disord. 2023 Dec.

Abstract

Versions of cognitive behavioral therapy (Coping Cat, CC; Behavioral Interventions for Anxiety in Children with Autism, BIACA) have shown efficacy in treating anxiety among youth with autism spectrum disorder. Measures of efficacy have been primarily nomothetic symptom severity assessments. The current study examined idiographic coping outcomes in the Treatment of Anxiety in Autism Spectrum Disorder study (N = 167). Longitudinal changes in coping with situations individualized to youth fears (Coping Questionnaire) were examined across CC, BIACA and treatment as usual (TAU) in a series of multilevel models. CC and BIACA produced significantly greater improvements than TAU in caregiver-reported coping. Youth report did not reflect significant differences. Results show the efficacy of CC and BIACA in improving idiographic caregiver-, but not youth-, reported youth coping.

Keywords: Anxiety; Autism spectrum disorder; Cognitive-behavioraltherapy; Coping; Idiographic assessment.

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Conflict of interest statement

Dr. Storch discloses the following relationships: consultant for Biohaven Pharmaceuticals and Brainsway; Book royalties from Elsevier, Springer, American Psychological Association, Wiley, Oxford, Kingsley, and Guilford; Stock valued at less than $5000 from NView; Research support from NIH, IOCDF, Ream Foundation, and Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Dr Kerns reported receiving honoraria for presenting on her research on anxiety and autism, as well as consultation fees for training staff at other research sites in anxiety and autism assessment, outside the submitted work. Dr. Kendall receives royalties, and his spouse has employment, related to publications associated with the treatment of anxiety in youth. All other authors have no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Longitudinal changes in parent coping questionnaire Note: TAU = treatment as usual; BIACA = behavioral intervention for anxiety in children with autism
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Longitudinal changes in youth coping questionnaire Note: TAU = treatment as usual; BIACA = behavioral intervention for anxiety in children with autism.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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