Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Core Autism Symptoms in School-Aged Children: A Randomized, Controlled Trial (BIACA-2)

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 2; Phase 1

Conditions: Autism Spectrum Disorder

Treatments: Behavioral: cognitive behavioral therapy; Behavioral: Usual community care

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00789932

OAR-UCLA-2009

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study is designed to examine the efficacy of a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) program for treating core autism symptoms, social and emotional problems, and adaptive behavior deficits in children with autism spectrum disorders.

Enrollment: 20 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 7 to 11 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• 7 - 11 years of age
• meet research criteria for a diagnosis of autism, Asperger Syndrome, or PDD-NOS
• meet DSM-IV criteria for one of the following anxiety disorders: Separation Anxiety Disorder, Social Phobia, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
• If taking medication, have maintained a stable dose for 1 month prior to baseline assessment

Exclusion criteria

• child has an IQ of less than 80
• begin taking new medication(s) or current medication dose changes either (1) less than 1 month prior to baseline assessment, or (2) during the study period
• for any reason the child or parents appear unable to participate in the treatment program

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

---

20 participants in 2 patient groups

CBT

Experimental group

Treatment:

Behavioral: cognitive behavioral therapy

Usual Care

Active Comparator group

Treatment:

Behavioral: Usual community care