Phenomenology of Anxiety in Preschool Children With ASD

Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Inc.

Status: Completed

Conditions: Autism Spectrum Disorder; Anxiety

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04436432

IRB00173329

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study investigates the prevalence, phenomenology, and correlates of anxiety in preschool children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) across a two-year period. Attention bias to threat, a potential objective marker of anxiety, also is examined using eye tracking methods.

Full description

Anxiety disorders in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are one of the most prevalent and impairing co-occurring conditions, affecting approximately 40% of the population and causing major disruptions in school and family life. Research in typically developing (TD) children suggests that anxiety usually emerges in the preschool years (3-5 years) and can result in future psychopathology. Early detection and treatment of childhood anxiety in children with ASD can lead to improved clinical outcomes.

This study assesses the prevalence and phenomenology of anxiety in preschool children with ASD utilizing an established and comprehensive measure of anxiety in children with ASD across three time points (baseline, one year post, two years post).It also investigates the association of child (e.g., ASD features) and parent (e.g., mental health, caregiver strain) characteristics with anxiety cross-sectionally and longitudinally, to determine if certain correlates predict or maintain future anxiety. Attention bias to threat stimuli and its physiological correlates are also examined as potential objective markers of anxiety using eye tracking and pupillometry methods.

Enrollment: 75 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 36 to 71 months old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Age 3 years 0 months to 5 years 11 months;
• DSM-5 ASD diagnosis based on clinical impressions and results of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2 (ADOS-2)
• Child resides with at least one biological parent
• Parents are English speaking

Exclusion criteria

• History of psychological trauma
• History of neurologic illness
• Parent substance abuse, bipolar disorder, psychosis
• Parents require support from a medical interpreter
• Child displays severe behavior challenges
• Severe eyesight or hearing impairments that may interfere with the protocols

Trial design

75 participants in 1 patient group

Assessment

Description:

Children with ASD ages 3-5 years at baseline