Abstract
Anxiety is common among adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and may amplify the core social disability, thus necessitating combined treatment approaches. This pilot, randomized controlled trial evaluated the feasibility and preliminary outcomes of the Multimodal Anxiety and Social Skills Intervention (MASSI) program in a sample of 30 adolescents with ASD and anxiety symptoms of moderate or greater severity. The treatment was acceptable to families, subject adherence was high, and therapist fidelity was high. A 16 % improvement in ASD social impairment (within-group effect size = 1.18) was observed on a parent-reported scale. Although anxiety symptoms declined by 26 %, the change was not statistically significant. These findings suggest MASSI is a feasible treatment program and further evaluation is warranted.
Similar content being viewed by others
Notes
Participants in both groups (treatment and wait-list) had medication changes during the trial, despite being requested at baseline to delay or minimize medication regimen changes. During the trial, seven of the 15 participants in the MASSI group and nine of the 15 WL participants had medication dosage changes.
References
Barrett, P. M., Dadds, M. R., & Rapee, R. M. (1996). Family treatment of childhood anxiety: A controlled trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 64, 333–342.
Bass, M. M., Duchowny, C. A., & Llabre, M. M. (2009). The effect of therapeutic horseback riding on social functioning in children with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 39(9), 1261–1267. doi:10.1007/s10803-009-0734-3.
Beaumont, R., & Sofronoff, K. (2008). A multi-component social skills intervention for children with asperger syndrome: The junior detective training program. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 49(7), 743–753. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7610.2008.01920.x.
Bellini, S. (2006). The development of social anxiety in adolescents with autism spectrum disorders. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 21, 138–145.
Brown, T. A., & McNiff, J. (2009). Specificity of autonomic arousal to DSM-IV panic disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 47, 487–493. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2009.02.016.
Campbell, J. M., Ferguson, J. E., Herzinger, C. V., Jackson, J. N., & Marino, C. A. (2004). Combined descriptive and explanatory information improves peers’ perceptions of autism. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 25, 321–339.
Chalfant, A., Rapee, R., & Carroll, L. (2007). Treating anxiety disorders in children with high functioning autism spectrum disorders: A controlled trial. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 37, 1842–1857. doi:10.1007/s10803-006-0318-4.
Chambless, D. L., & Hollon, S. D. (1998). Defining empirically supported therapies. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 66, 7–18.
Chorpita, B. F. (2007). Modular cognitive-behavioral therapy for childhood anxiety disorders. In J. B. Persons (Ed.), Guides to individualized evidence-based treatment. Guilford: New York.
Clark, L. A., & Watson, D. (1991). Tripartite model of anxiety and depression: Psychometric evidence and taxonomic implications. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 100, 316–336.
Clarke, G., Hops, H., Lewinsohn, P. M., Andrews, J., Seeley, J. R., & Williams, J. (1992). Cognitive-behavioral group treatment of adolescent depression: Prediction of outcome. Behavior Therapy, 23, 341–354.
Constantino, J. N., & Gruber, C. P. (2005). Social responsiveness scale (SRS). Los Angeles, CA: Western Psychological Services.
Costello, E. J., Egger, H. L., & Angold, A. (2004). Developmental epidemiology of anxiety disorders. In T. H. Ollendick & J. S. March (Eds.), Phobic and anxiety disorders in children and adolescents. New York: Oxford University Press.
Dalton, K. D., Nacewicz, B. M., Alexander, A. L., & Davidson, R. J. (2007). Gaze-fixation, brain activation, and amygdala volume in unaffected siblings of individuals with autism. Biological Psychiatry, 61, 512–520. doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2006.05.019.
deBruin, E. I., Ferdinand, R. F., Meester, S., De Nijs, F. A., & Verheij, F. (2007). High rates of psychiatric co-morbidty in PDD-NOS. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 37, 877–886.
Fidler, F., Faulkner, C., & Cumming, G. (2008). Analyzing and presenting results. In A. M. Nezu & C. M. Nezu (Eds.), Evidence-based outcome research: A practical guide to conducting randomized trials for psychosocial interventions (pp. 315–334). New York: Oxford University Press.
Gadow, K. D., & Sprafkin, J. (1997). Adolescent symptom inventory-4 screening manual. Stony Brook, NY: Checkmate Plus.
Gadow, K. D., & Sprafkin, J. (1998). Adolescent symptom inventory-4 norms manual. Stony Brook, NY: Checkmate Plus.
Gaynor, S. T., Lawrence, P. S., & Nelson-Gray, R. O. (2006). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for adolescent depression: Review, preliminary findings, and implications for theory and practice. Behavior Modification, 30, 647–672. doi:10.1177/0145445504272979.
Guy W. (1976). ECDEU assessment manual for psychopharmacology. US Dept Health, Education, and Welfare publication; ADM No. 76-338 (pp. 218–222)). Rockville, MD: National Institute of Mental Health.
Harnum, M., Duffy, J., & Ferguson, D. A. (2007). Adults’ versus children’s percentions of a child with autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 37, 1337–1343.
Honda, H., Shimizu, Y., Imai, M., & Nitto, Y. (2005). Cumulative incidence of childhood autism: A total population study of better accuracy and precision. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 47, 10–18. doi:10.1192/bjp.169.2.228.
Hudson, J. L., Rapee, R. M., Deveney, C., Schniering, C. A., Lyneham, H. J., & Bovopoulos, N. (2009). Cognitive-behavioral treatment versus an active control for children and adolescents with anxiety disorders: A randomized trial. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 48, 533–544. doi:10.1097/CHI.0b013e31819c2401.
Jacobson, N. S., & Truax, P. (1991). Clinical significance: A statistical approach to defining meaningful change in psychotherapy research. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 59, 12–19.
Joseph, R. M., Ehrman, K., McNallly, R., & Keehn, B. (2008). Affective response to eye contact and face recognition ability in children with ASD. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 14, 947–955.
Joshi, G., Petty, C., Wozniak, J., Henin, A., Fried, R., Galdo, M. et al. (2010). The heavy burden of psychiatric comorbidity in youth with autism spectrum disorders: A large comparative study of a psychiatrically referred population. Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders. Advance online publication. doi:10.1007/s10803-010-0996-9.
Kendall, P. C., Flannery-Schroeder, E., Panichelli-Mindel, S. M., Southam-Gerow, M., Henin, A., & Warman, M. (1997). Therapy for youths with anxiety disorders: A second randomized clinical trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 65(3), 366–380. doi:10.1037/0022-006X.65.3.366.
Kendall, P. C., Hudson, J. L., Gosch, E., Flannery-Schroeder, E., & Suveg, C. (2008). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety disordered youth: A randomized clinical trial evaluating child and family modalities. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 76, 282–297.
Kim, Y. S., Bennett, L. L., Koh, Y. J., Fombonne, E., Laska, E., Lim, E. C., et al. (2011). Prevalence of autism spectrum disorders in a total population sample. American Journal of Psychiatry, 168, 904–912. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2011.10101532.
Kleinhans, N. M., Richards, T., Weaver, K., Johnson, L. C., Greenson, J., Dawson, G., et al. (2010). Association between amygdala response to emotional faces and social anxiety in autism spectrum disorders. Neuropsychologia, 48(12), 3665–3670. doi:10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2010.07.022.
Klin, A., & Volkmar, F. R. (2000). Treatment and intervention guidelines for individuals with asperger syndrome. In A. Klin, F. R. Volkmar, & S. S. Sparrow (Eds.), Asperger syndrome (pp. 340–366). New York: Guilford Press.
Kraemer, H. C., & Kupfer, D. J. (2006). Size of treatment effects and their importance to clinical research and practice. Biological Psychiatry, 59, 990–996.
Kraemer, H., Minitz, J., Noda, A., Tinklenberg, J., & Yesavage, J. A. (2006). Caution regarding the use of pilot studies to guide power calculations for study proposals. Archives of General Psychiatry, 63, 484–489.
Kyllianinen, A., & Hietanen, J. (2006). Skin conductance responses to another person’s gaze in children with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 36(4), 517–525. doi:10.1007/s10803-006-0091-4.
Leon, A. C., Davis, L. L., & Kraemer, H. C. (2011). The role and interpretation of pilot studies in clinical research. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 45, 626–629. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2010.10.008.
Leyfer, O. T., Folstein, S. E., Bacalman, S., Davis, N. O., Dinh, E., Morgan, J., et al. (2006). Comorbid psychiatric disorders in children with autism: Interview development and rates of disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 36, 849–861.
Lopata, C., Thomeer, M. L., Volker, M. A., Nida, R. E., Lee, G. K., Toomey, J. A., et al. (2010). RCT of a manualized social treatment for high-functioning autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 40, 1297–1310. doi:10.1007/s10803-010-0989-8.
Lord, C., Rutter, M., DiLavore, P. C., & Risi, S. (2002). Autism diagnostic observation schedule. Los Angeles: Western Psychological Services.
Lord, C., Rutter, M., & Le Couteur, A. (1994). Autism diagnostic interview—revised: A revised version of a diagnostic interview for caregivers of individuals with possible pervasive developmental disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 24(5), 659–685. doi:10.1007/BF02172145.
Mazefsky, C. A., Hughes, A. J., Oswald, D. P., & Lainhart, J. E. (2012). Lack of correspondence between self- and parent-report on structured psychiatric interview of adolescents with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders. Oral presentation at the International Meeting for Autism Research, Toronto, Canada.
Mazefsky, C. A., Kao, J., & Oswald, D. P. (2011). Preliminary evidence suggesting caution in the use of psychiatric self-report measures with adolescents with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 5, 164–174. doi:10.1016/j.rasd.2010.03.006.
Merikangas, K. R., He, J., Burstein, M., Swanson, S. A., Avenevoli, S., et al. (2010). Lifetime prevalence of mental disorders in US adolescents: Results from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication-Adolescent Supplement (NCS-A). Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 49(10), 980–989.
Morris, S. B., & DeShon, R. P. (2002). Combining effect size estimates in meta-analysis with repeated measures and independent-group designs. Psychological Methods, 7(1), 105–125.
Myles, B., Barnhill, G., Hagiwara, T., Griswold, D., & Simpson, R. (2001). A synthesis of studies on the intellectual, academic, social/emotional and sensory characteristics of children with asperger syndrome. Education and Training in Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, 36, 304–311.
Ochs, E., Kremer-Sadlik, T., Solomon, O., & Gainer Sirota, K. (2001). Inclusion as social practice: Views of children with autism. Social Development, 10, 399–419.
Ollendick, T. H., Ost, L.-G., Reuterskiold, L., Costa, N., Cederlund, R., Sirbu, C., et al. (2009). One-session treatment of specific phobias in youth: A randomized clinical trial in the United States and Sweden. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 77, 504–516.
Pavuluri, M. N., Graczyk, P. A., Henry, D. B., Carbrat, J. A., Heidenreich, J., & Miklowitz, D. J. (2004). Child- and family-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy for pediatric bipolar disorder: Development and preliminary results. Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry, 2004(43), 528–537. doi:10.1097/00004583-200405000-00006.
Pitman, E. J. G. (1937). Significance tests which may be applied to samples from any population. Royal Statistical Society Supplement, 4(119–130), 225–232.
Pocock, S. J. (1983). Clinical trials: A practical approach. Chichester: Wiley.
Reaven, J. A., Blakeley-Smith, A., Nichols, S., Dasari, M., Flanigan, E., & Hepburn, S. (2009). Cognitive-behavioral group treatment for anxiety symptoms in children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders: A pilot study. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 24(1), 27–37.
Research Units on Pediatric Psychopharmacology [RUPP] Autism Network. (2007). Parent training for children with pervasive developmental disorders: A multi-site feasibility trial. Behavioral Interventions, 22, 179–199. doi:10.1002/bin.236.
Research Units on Pediatric Psychopharmacology Anxiety Study Group. (2002). The pediatric anxiety rating scale (PARS): Development and psychometric properties. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 41, 1061–1069.
Rutter, M., Lord, C., & Le Couteur, A. (2003). Autism diagnostic interview revised manual. Torrance, CA: Wester Psychological Services.
Shatayermann, O. (2007). Peer victimization in adolescents and young adults diagnosed with asperger’s syndrome: A link to depressive symptomatology, anxiety symptomatology, and suicidal ideation. Issues in Comprehensive Pediatric Nursing, 30, 87–107. doi:10.1080/01460860701525089.
Silverman, W. K., & Albano, A. M. (1996). Anxiety disorders interview schedule for DSM-IV. San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation.
Silverman, W., Kurtines, W., Ginsburg, G., Weems, C., Rabian, B., & Serafini, L. (1999). Contingency management, self-control, and education support in the treatment of childhood phobic disorders: A randomized clinical trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 67, 675–687.
Silverman, W. K., Saavedra, L. M., & Pina, A. A. (2001). Test-retest reliability of anxiety symptoms and diagnoses with anxiety disorders interview schedule for DSM-IV : Child and parent versions. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 40(8), 937–944. doi:10.1097/00004583-200108000-00016.
Smith, T., Scahill, L., Dawson, G., Guthrie, D., Lord, C., Odom, S., et al. (2007). Designing research studies on psychosocial interventions in autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 37, 354–366. doi:10.1007/s10803-006-0173-3.
Sofronoff, K., Attwood, T., & Hinton, S. (2005). A randomised controlled trial of a CBT intervention for anxiety in children with asperger syndrome. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 46(11), 1152–1160. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7610.2006.00411.x.
Sparrow, S. S., Cicchetti, D. V., & Balla, D. A. (2005). Vineland-II adaptive behavior scales (2nd ed.). Circle Pines, MN: AGS Publishing.
Stattin, H., & Kerr, M. (2009). Challenges in intervention research on adolescent development. Journal of Adolescence, 32, 1437–1442. doi:10.1016/j.adolescence.2009.10.010.
Sukhodolsky, D. G., Scahill, L., Gadow, K. D., Arnold, E., Aman, M. G., McDougle, C. J., et al. (2008). Parent-rated anxiety symptoms in children with pervasive developmental disorders: Frequency and association with core autism symptoms and cognitive functioning. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 36, 117–128.
Swaim, K. F., & Morgan, S. B. (2001). Children’s attitudes and behavioral intentions toward a peer with autistic behaviors: Does a brief educational intervention have an effect? Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 31, 195–205.
TADS Team. (2004). Fluoxetine, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and their combination for adolescents with depression. Journal of the American Medical Association, 292, 807–820.
Trosper, S. E., Whitton, S. W., Brown, T. A., & Pincus, D. B. (2012). Understanding the latent structure of the emotional disorders in children and adolescents. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 40, 621–632. doi:10.1007/s10802-011-9582-7.
Tse, J., Strulovich, J., Tagalakis, V., Meng, L., & Fombonne, E. (2007). Social skills training for adolescents with asperger syndrome and high-functioning autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 37, 1960–1968.
United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2012). Prevalence of autism spectrum disorders-autism and developmental disabilities monitoring network, United States, 2008. MMWR Surveill Summ, 61 (No. SS-3).
Wagner, A., Lecavalier, L., Arnold, L. E., Aman, M. G., Scahill, L., Stigler, K. A., et al. (2007). Developmental disabilities modification of children’s global assessment scale (DD-CGAS). Biological Psychiatry, 61, 504–511. doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2007.01.001.
Walkup, J. T., Albano, A. M., Piacentini, J. C., Birmaher, B., Compton, S. N., Sherrill, J. T., et al. (2008). Cognitive behavioral therapy, Sertraline, or a combination in childhood anxiety. New England Journal of Medicine, 359, 2753–2766.
Wechsler, D. (1999). Wechsler abbreviated scale of intelligence (WASI). San Antonio, TX: Harcourt Assessment.
White, S.W., Albano, A., Johnson, C., Kasari, C., Ollendick, T., Klin, A., et al. (2010a). Development of a cognitive-behavioral intervention program to treat anxiety and social deficits in teens with high-functioning autism. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 13(1), 77–90. doi:10.1007/s10567-009-0062-3.
White, S. W., Koenig, K., & Scahill, L. (2010b). Group therapy to improve social skills in adolescents with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 25(4), 209–219. doi:10.1177/1088357610380595.
White, S.W., Ollendick, T., Scahill, L., Oswald, D., & Albano, A. (2009a). Preliminary efficacy of a cognitive-behavioral treatment program for anxious youth with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 39, 1652–1662. doi:10.1007/s10803-009-0801-9.
White, S. W., Oswald, D., Ollendick, T., & Scahill, L. (2009b). Anxiety in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders. Clinical Psychology Review, 29(3), 216–229. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2009.01.003.
White, S. W., Schry, A. R., & Maddox, B. M. (2012). Brief report: The assessment of anxiety in high-functioning adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. Advance online publication. doi:10.1007/s10803-011-1353-3.
Witwer, A. N., & Lecavalier, L. (2010). Validity of comorbid psychiatric disorders in youngsters with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 22, 367–380. doi:10.1007/s10882-010-9194-0.
Wood, J. J., Drahota, A., Sze, K., Har, K., Chiu, A., & Langer, D. A. (2009). Cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety in children with autism spectrum disorders: A randomized, controlled trial. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 50(3), 224–234. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7610.2008.01948.x.
Wood, J. J., Piacentini, J. C., Bergman, R. L., McCracken, J., & Barrios, V. (2002). Concurrent validity of the anxiety disorders section of the anxiety disorders interview schedule for DSM-IV: Child and parent versions. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 31(3), 335–342. doi:10.1207/153744202760082595.
Acknowledgments
This project was supported by a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health [1K01MH079945-01; PI: S. W. White]. We thank the participants in this study, their parents, and their teachers.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
White, S.W., Ollendick, T., Albano, A.M. et al. Randomized Controlled Trial: Multimodal Anxiety and Social Skill Intervention for Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 43, 382–394 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-012-1577-x
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-012-1577-x