Using Cognitive Behavior Therapy to Reduce Anxiety in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Other Neurodevelopmental Disorders
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Authors
Clements, Taylor E.
Issue Date
2014
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
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Abstract
In the United States 1 in 6 children will be diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD). One of the most prevalent NDDs is Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Today, 1 in 68 children will be diagnosed with ASD. Anxiety is one of the most prevalent co-occurring disorders for children with ASD and other NDDs. Modified Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) has been shown effective in treating anxiety in children with ASD, but there is a lack of literature suggesting similar results with children with other NDDs. Most treatments for anxiety in children with ASD and other NDDs using CBT involve numerous weekly sessions, which can cost families hundreds of dollars per session. Many families of children with ASD and other NDDs are unable to afford such expensive treatments, and often have transportation issues. Seventeen children diagnosed with ASD and other NDDs participated in this study, through their participation in Animal Rescuers Camp facilitated by Daily Behavioral Health. On days 1 and 3 of this study participants were given the Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale-Second Edition (RCMAS-2). Participants scores on the RCMAS-2 from day 1 were used as pretest scores and scores from day 3 were used as posttest scores. On day 2 of this study, participants received intense CBT spanning 8 hours. Pre and posttest scores were used to determine anxiety reduction. This researcher predicts that participants with NDD (not ASD) will experience similar results as those with ASD, and that participants will have significantly lower posttest scores after receiving CBT treatment.
Description
vi, 46 p.
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