Development and Pilot Testing of Internet-Delivered, Family-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders in Autistic Youth

Authors

Andrew G Guzick
Sophie C Schneider
Amanda B Perozo Garcia
Minjee Kook
Rebecca L Greenberg
David Riddle
Morgan McNeel
Servando Rodriguez-Barajas
Michelle Yang
Blake Upshaw
Eric A Storch

Publication Date

4-1-2023

Journal

Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders

DOI

10.1016/j.jocrd.2023.100789

PMID

36908861

PMCID

PMC9997671

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

4-1-2024

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Author MSS

Published Open-Access

yes

Keywords

Autism, OCD, Autism CBT, iCBT, digital therapeutics

Abstract

Cognitive behavioral therapy adapted for autistic youth with anxiety and/or OCD has a strong evidence base, but few have access. A 12-week family-based, Internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) program for 7-15 year-old autistic youth with anxiety and/or OCD was developed as a potential method to address this problem. Quantitative and qualitative feedback from stakeholders (parents, youth, clinicians) was gathered on an initial draft of content before conducting a pilot trial. This feedback suggested high quality, engagement, usability, and informativeness of the material. Suggestions were incorporated into the treatment program that was tested in a pilot trial. Eight families were randomized to the iCBT program with either 1) weekly email support or 2) weekly email support plus biweekly telehealth check-ins, and seven of these families completed pre- and post-treatment assessments. An average reduction of 39% in anxiety severity was found, with six of the seven being classified as responders. Preliminary evidence suggests that family-based iCBT is an acceptable and promising treatment for autistic youth with anxiety and/or obsessive-compulsive disorders that should be further modified and tested in future work.