Research

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Children and Adolescents with Anxiety and ASD  

The Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is ongoing clinical research about anxiety symptoms in children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Traditional cognitive behavioral strategies for addressing anxiety symptoms in typical children are modified for children with High-Functioning Autism or Asperger’s Disorders.

Major Goals:

  1. To evaluate the efficiency of Cognitive Behavioral Treatment (CBT) intervention in reducing anxiety symptoms in children with high-functioning autism. 
  2. To develop parent-friendly written materials to provide ongoing reference materials for families of children with high-functioning autism. 
  3. To develop, implement, and evaluate a service delivery model to reduce anxiety symptoms in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders;
  4. To develop a manualized intervention package for children with ASD, modifying existing cognitive strategies for treatment of anxiety symptoms;
  5. To develop a manualized intervention for parents of children with both anxiety symptoms and Autism Spectrum Disorders, based on a review of the empirical literature for parents of typical children with anxiety disorders.

Funding Source:
This project is not currently funded but has been funded in the past by the Organization for Autism Research and Cure Autism Now. Additional funding is sought through grant funding as opportunities become available.

Contact Person:
Mary Hetrick
JFK Partners
13121 E. 17th Ave., C234
Aurora, CO 80045
303-724-7658
mary.hetrick@ucdenver.edu 

Staff:
Susan Hepburn, PhD
Judy Reaven, PhD
Audrey Blakeley-Smith, PhD
Mary Hetrick, BS