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document
Group therapy for anxiety in children with autism spectrum disorder . AIM To investigate the acceptability and feasibility of adapted group therapy for anxiety in children with autism spectrum disorder in a pilot randomised controlled trial . METHOD A total of 32 children aged 9-13 years were randomised to immediate or delayed therapy using the 'Exploring Feelings ' manual ( Attwood , 2004 ) . Child and parent groups were run in parallel , for seven weekly sessions , under the supervision of experienced psychologists . The primary blinded outcome measures addressed change in overall functioning and in severity of the primary anxiety diagnosis after 3 months . RESULTS Children met diagnostic criteria for 1-6 anxiety disorders ( median 3 ) . At end point , both parents and children in the immediate therapy group were more likely to report a reduction in anxiety symptoms . Fidelity of delivery of the group therapy was high , and attendance was 91 % . CONCLUSIONS This pilot trial established that children and families were willing to be recruited and randomised , the outcome measures were acceptable , the format and content of the groups were feasible within UK child and adolescent mental health services , the intervention was appreciated by families and attrition was very small .
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Intervention_Psychological
Group therapy
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Intervention_Psychological
adapted group therapy
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Intervention_Psychological
immediate or delayed therapy
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Intervention_Psychological
'Exploring Feelings
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Intervention_Psychological
immediate therapy
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Intervention_Psychological
group therapy
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Outcome_Mental
anxiety
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Outcome_Physical
overall functioning
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Outcome_Physical
severity of the primary anxiety diagnosis
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Outcome_Physical
reduction in anxiety symptoms . Fidelity of delivery
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Outcome_Other
attendance
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Participant_Age
children
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Participant_Condition
autism spectrum disorder
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Participant_Condition
children with autism spectrum disorder
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Participant_Sample-size
32 children
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Participant_Age
9-13 years
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Participant_Condition
Children met diagnostic criteria for 1-6 anxiety disorders ( median 3 ) .