Parent-Directed Cognitive Behavioral Teletherapy for Anxiety in Autistic Youth: A Randomized Study of Therapist Support Levels

Title: Evaluating the Efficacy of Parent-Led Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Autistic Youth with Anxiety Disorders

DOI: 10.1016/j.beth.2023.08.008

Recent research has highlighted the potential of parent-led cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as an effective intervention for addressing anxiety disorders in autistic youth. The study involved a cohort of 87 autistic children aged between 7 and 13 years, all of whom were diagnosed with anxiety disorders. Parents played a pivotal role in administering either a low-contact or standard-contact format of CBT over a span of 12 weeks.

Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups: one group engaged in low therapist contact, which consisted of four 30-minute telehealth sessions, while the other participated in a standard therapist contact model entailing ten 60-minute telehealth calls. The outcomes of the study revealed a significant reduction in anxiety symptoms, functional impairment, and features associated with autism across both therapy formats, indicating the efficacy of parent-led CBT. Remarkably, there were no significant differences in treatment efficacy between the two groups.

The study also gauged patient and parental satisfaction, with both formats receiving high satisfaction ratings. However, notable differences emerged, as the group involved in standard-contact CBT reported significantly higher satisfaction compared to their counterparts in the low-contact group. This insight underscores the importance of therapist engagement and interaction within therapeutic settings.

In terms of effectiveness, the responder rates were encouraging: 69% of participants who completed the treatment showed improvement immediately following the intervention, with rates remaining robust at 86% during a three-month follow-up. Specifically, the standard-contact group demonstrated a responder rate of 70%, compared to 68% within the low-contact group.

From a financial perspective, the study emphasized substantial cost savings associated with the low-contact format, which averaged 5.70 per family, contrasting sharply with the ,978.34 incurred in the standard-contact approach. This finding is particularly relevant given the increasing demand for accessible mental health interventions, especially within the autistic population.

In summary, the implications of this study suggest that both low-contact and standard-contact parent-led CBT can significantly mitigate anxiety symptoms in autistic youth, making it a viable option for families seeking effective treatment. These findings advocate for broader implementation of parent-led therapy models, especially as telehealth continues to evolve as a critical mode of delivering mental health services. With ongoing research, this approach could represent a transformative step towards enhancing mental health outcomes in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).