Cognitive behavioural therapy for anxiety in a man with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual Disability, and social phobia

Abstract

Purpose -This paper evaluates the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) in the treatment of social anxiety with a 19-year-old man with intellectual disabilities (ID) and autistic spectrum disorders. Design/methodology/approach -The intervention was evaluated using an A-B single case design. An idiosyncratic measure was developed to measure anxiety symptoms on a daily basis. The brief symptom inventory (BSI; Derogatis, 1975) measured symptom patterns across nine psychological dimensions and was administered at initial assessment, pre-intervention and post-intervention. Findings -Visual and statistical analysis of the data showed that anxiety severity dramatically reduced throughout the course of therapy, reaching and maintaining zero and this was statistically significant. Data seemed to show that sudden gains in the reduction of anxiety severity occurred during the relaxation and cognitive phases of intervention. This sudden gain coincided with an increase in daily activities, and exposure to more anxiety provoking events which was also statistically significant. Global anxiety scores, as measured by the BSI, showed a notable reduction at post-treatment. Originality/value -This paper demonstrates that CBT can bring about meaningful improvements in the treatment of anxiety in people with ID and autism and suggests that further exploration with the wider population is needed.

Relaxation therapy and anxiety, self-esteem, and emotional regulation among adults with intellectual disabilities

“…This study shows that the participants in the RG, after 10 relaxation sessions using the Jacobson method, showed positive developments in all clinical variables except trait anxiety, while at the same time the CG showed no change in any clinical variables. These results confirm those of previous studies (Gorely et al, 2002;Lindsay et al, 1988;Lindsay and Morisson, 1996;Martin et al, 1998;Miller, 2008;Wright, 2013) and show that individuals with ID can use relaxation to reduce their anxiety, just as individuals without ID can (Manzoni et al, 2008).…”

A review of the frequency and nature of adaptations to cognitive behavioural therapy for adults with Intellectual Disabilities

“…Using the clients own language was reported by Kirkland (). Studies also reported simplification of written and verbal language, for example by using accessible information sheets (Atnas & Lippold, ; Wright, ) and reducing the need for written psycho‐educational materials (Kellett et al., ). Studies also noted the need for specific questions at times (Hurley, ), as well as the need for simple words and short sentences (Willner & Goodey, ).…”

Conceptualizing and Treating Social Anxiety in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Focus Group Study with Multidisciplinary Professionals

“…; Maddox & White ). Finally, whether interventions such as cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), the recommended treatment of choice for SA in TD samples (NICE ), are clinically useful for individuals with ASD (with or without a concurrent ID) has seldom been studied (Cardaciotto & Herbert ; Wright ).…”