Parent-Led Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Children with Autism Spectrum Conditions. A Pilot Study

• Published in: Journal of autism and developmental disorders Vol. 53; no. 1; pp. 263 - 274
• Main Authors: Byrne, Gary, Ghráda, Áine Ní, O’Mahony, Teresa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.01.2023; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Anxiety; Anxiety Disorders; Autism; Autism Spectrum Disorder - psychology; Autism Spectrum Disorder - therapy; Autistic children; Autistic Disorder; Behavior Modification; Behavioral Science and Psychology; Care and treatment; Child; Child and School Psychology; Children; Cognitive ability; Cognitive behavioral therapy; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - methods; Cognitive Restructuring; Cognitive therapy; Cognitive-behavioral factors; Diagnosis; Elementary School Students; Families & family life; Fear & phobias; Health aspects; Humans; Influence; Intervention; Medical diagnosis; Mental health; Neurosciences; Original Paper; Outcomes of Treatment; Parent Participation; Parents; Parents & parenting; Parents - psychology; Pediatrics; Pervasive developmental disorders; Pilot Projects; Preschool Children; Primary care; Psychology; Public Health; Symptoms (Individual Disorders); Teenagers; Testing; Ireland; Autism spectrum disorders; Parent training; Parent-only interventions; Cognitive behavioural therapy; Anxiety disorders
• ISSN: 0162-3257; 1573-3432; 1573-3432
• DOI: 10.1007/s10803-022-05424-2

This article reports on a pilot study of a parent-only cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) programme for parents of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and anxiety difficulties. Twenty-one parents of anxious children with ASD (5–11 of age) completed the From Timid to Tiger intervention. Parent outcome measures were assessed at post-intervention and at 3-month follow-up. Analysis indicated significant reductions in both parent and clinician reports of child anxiety symptoms. Specifically, 38% of children were free of their primary diagnosis at treatment end and this increased to 57% when measured at 3-month follow-up. Positive gains were evidenced regarding parents’ ability to manage their child's anxiety without accommodating to it. The results provide preliminary evidence of parent-only CBT programs for children with ASD