Publication Date
5-1-2024
Journal
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
DOI
10.1007/s10803-023-05912-z
PMID
36847894
PMCID
PMC11846066
PubMedCentral® Posted Date
2-22-2025
PubMedCentral® Full Text Version
Author MSS
Published Open-Access
yes
Keywords
Humans, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Male, Female, Child, Anxiety, Autistic Disorder, Treatment Outcome, Severity of Illness Index, Child, Preschool, Social Interaction, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Autism spectrum disorder, Anxiety, Treatment, Cognitive behavioral therapy, Obsessive-compulsive disorder, Assessment
Abstract
PURPOSE: Using data from a randomized clinical trial evaluating cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for children with autism and co-occurring anxiety, this study examined the relationship between autism features and anxiety symptoms throughout CBT.
METHODS: Two multilevel mediation analyses were run which examined the mediating role of changes in anxiety for changes in two core features of autism, (a) repetitive and restrictive behaviors (RRBs) and (b) social communication/interaction impairments, between pre- and post-treatment.
RESULTS: Indirect effects between time and autism characteristics were significant for both models, indicating that as anxiety changes, so do RRBs and social communication/interaction as the outcomes respectively.
CONCLUSION: Findings suggest a bidirectional relationship between anxiety and autism features. Implications of these findings are discussed.
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