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Objective: To evaluate improvement during the (a) cognitive and (b) exposure therapy phases of cognitive–behavioral therapy (CBT) for autistic youth with anxiety disorders. Method: Participants were 148 autistic youth (aged 7–13; 77% male; 64% White) with clinically significant anxiety who were randomized to standard or adapted CBT. Clinician-rated anxiety severity was recorded at each appointment. Trajectories of change during (a) the cognitive phase and (b) the exposure phase of treatment were analyzed using piecewise multilevel modeling. Results: Compared to the psychoeducation and cognitive therapy phases, the exposure phase corresponded with significantly more rapid symptom reduction, b = −.11, 95% CI [−.13, −.071]. This finding was true for standard CBT, which included nine sessions prior to exposure initiation (on average), as well as for CBT personalized for autistic youth, which introduced exposure following the fifth session (on average). In contrast, compared with improvements during initial psychoeducation sessions, the introduction of cognitive skills corresponded with significantly slower symptom reduction, b =.066, 95% CI [.020,.11]. This finding was also true for both adapted and standard CBT. Conclusions: Results underscore the central role of exposure in the treatment of anxiety among autistic youth and question the utility of cognitive strategies without subsequent practice of these skills during exposure. Assuming a working relationship, therapists should consider moving through the preexposure coping phase of CBT quickly. Future research should evaluate the extent to which exposure can maintain its potency while minimizing coping skill preparation. What is the public health significance of this article?: Clinically significant anxiety is highly prevalent and causes substantial functional impairment in autistic youth. This study identified an acceleration of improvement during the exposure therapy phase of cognitive–behavioral therapy and minimal change during the cognitive portion. This finding was the case in a protocol that introduced exposure after the fifth session and in a protocol that introduced exposure after the ninth session, suggesting that introducing exposure earlier in treatment has the potential to enhance the efficiency and efficacy of treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dental anxiety seems to be elevated in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and may be associated with feelings of helplessness, loss of control, and sensory overload. Dental anxiety, a primary contributor to dental avoidance, can lead to unwanted long-term oral hygiene consequences. This manuscript characterizes the frequency and correlates of dental anxiety in children with ASD. Specifically, this study examined associations between child-reported dental anxiety and parent-reported autism symptom severity, anxiety symptom severity, sensory sensitivity, and internalizing/externalizing symptom severity. Participants included 76 children without cognitive impairment (age in years M = 9.9, SD = 1.8) who took part in a cognitive behavioral therapy study for children with ASD and co-occurring anxiety disorders. Elevated dental anxiety was found in 68% of participants based on a cut-off score from a dental anxiety measure, with fears related to pain being the most commonly endorsed concern; over half of youth endorsed feeling scared about pinching feelings or having a tooth pulled out at the dentist. No significant correlations between dental anxiety and other variables of interest were found, including overall anxiety severity, ASD symptoms, internalizing and externalizing symptoms, and sensory sensitivities. The findings contextualize the frequency of dental anxiety and its relationship to various variables, which may be useful in tailoring existing treatments to reduce dental anxiety in children with ASD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A growing body of research has examined the efficacy of varying formats (individual, group, linear, modular) of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) as a treatment for anxiety disorders in children and youth with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The present review utilized Chambless and Hollon's (1998) criteria for efficacious treatments to: (1) critically review the current evidence base for the efficacy of CBT for anxiety disorders in ASD; and (2) provide recommendations for future research. Findings identify two probably efficacious CBT programs (one group and one individual program) and five possibly efficacious programs, but no well-established programs. Similarities and differences in the components of these programs, which range from unmodified to specifically developed for ASD populations, are highlighted. In addition, the steps required to demonstrate well-established efficacy, and ultimately effectiveness, are discussed alongside other recommendations for refined future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]