24th Annual Student Research Conference
Effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy in Reducing Anxiety among those with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Meta-Analysis
Jordan M. Constance* and Nicholas C. Jacobson
Dr. Jeffrey Vittengl, Faculty Mentor
This study investigated the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy in reducing anxiety among people with autism spectrum disorders through a meta-analysis. Analyses of 23 studies indicated that behavioral and cognitive-behavioral therapies were effective (median d = 1.47, range 1.15-8.86); yet behavioral therapy (median d = 2.90, range 2.08-6.41) was significantly more effective than cognitive-behavioral therapy (median d = 1.20, range 1.07-1.31) in most analyses, both at the end of therapy and in the follow-up data collection periods. Individual therapy (median d = 3.69, range 1.40-3.99) was found to be significantly more efficacious than group and family therapies (median d = 1.47, range 1.45-1.50). In most of the analyses, individuals with autistic disorder (median d = 1.56, range 0.95-4.40) did not differ from individuals with Asperger syndrome (median d = 0.83, range 0.60-1.10) in the treatment gains. These results suggest that the cognitive component in cognitive-behavioral therapy does not augment behavior therapy.
Keywords: Psychology, Autism, Anxiety, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Meta-analysis
Topic(s):Psychology
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: 11-7
Location: Georgian Room - SUB
Time: 4:30