Enhanced Cognitive Behavioral Treatment for Anxiety In Youth with ASD

Clinical anxiety is a common challenge for youth with ASD that appears to exacerbate social maladjustment and related autism symptoms. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), an empirically supported treatment for anxiety in typically developing youth, has been modified for use with youth with ASD with considerable success. Among the most intriguing findings is that treatment-mediated anxiety reduction is associated with improvements in social responsiveness and peer relationships in youth with ASD. The treatment methods, which include explicit focus on social anxiety and social initiation, will be reviewed, and the potential mechanisms through which CBT may mediate improvements in social functioning in youth with ASD will be discussed. Important areas for further treatment refinement and evaluation will also be reviewed.