Anxiety in Autism: Mechanisms, Measurement, and Treatment

Session Co-Chairs: Jacqui Rodgers and Amy Van Hecke Trainee Co-Leader: Alana McVey Symptoms of anxiety significantly increase individual impairment and impact on families and communities. The goal of this SIG is to facilitate integration of research related to basic physiological mechanisms, measurement development, and intervention. New themes for this year’s meeting include discussion of next steps for how to adapt treatment for ASD, characterization of marked gender differences in anxiety presentations, and how to measure and treat anxiety in less able individuals with ASD. The SIG will include brief presentations from young investigators including students and postdocs. We will then organize smaller groups according to the areas of biological frameworks, measurement, and treatment. Priority will be to develop networks for application for relevant research funding, and opportunities for submission of upcoming papers. Finally we will touch base with the student network headed by Alana McVey with a presentation on mentoring tips and a “speed dating” for matching potential mentors with student applicants.