Language
English
Publication Date
10-1-2024
Journal
Child Psychiatry & Human Development
DOI
10.1007/s10578-022-01489-3
PMID
36576640
PMCID
PMC10300226
PubMedCentral® Posted Date
10-1-2025
PubMedCentral® Full Text Version
Author MSS
Abstract
Anger outbursts (AO) are associated with severe symptoms, impairment and poorer treatment outcomes for anxious children, though limited research has examined AO in youth with co-occurring autism and anxiety disorders. This study examined AO in children with autism and anxiety by evaluating clinical characteristics, family accommodation, and changes in AO following anxiety-focused treatment. The sample comprised 167 youth with autism and anxiety enrolled in a multi-site randomized clinical trial comparing standard care CBT for anxiety, CBT adapted for youth with autism, and usual care. Most participants (60%) had AO, which contributed to impairment above and beyond anxiety and autism. AO impacted functional impairment indirectly through a pathway of parental accommodation. AO reduced with anxiety-focused treatment. Findings highlight that AO are common in this population and uniquely contribute to functional impairment, indicating a need for direct targeting in treatment.
Keywords
Humans, Male, Female, Child, Adolescent, Anger, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Anxiety Disorders, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Family, Anxiety, Anger outbursts, Rage, Anxiety, Autism-spectrum disorder
Published Open-Access
yes
Recommended Citation
Townsend, Allie N; Guzick, Andrew G; Hertz, Alyssa G; et al., "Anger Outbursts in Youth with ASD and Anxiety: Phenomenology and Relationship with Family Accommodation" (2024). Faculty and Staff Publications. 5904.
https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/baylor_docs/5904