Facing the Unknown: Intolerance of Uncertainty in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Hodgson, Anna; Freeston, Mark H.; Honey, Emma; Rodgers, Jacqui

doi:10.1111/jar.12245

Cited by 58 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…Hodgson et al (2016) conducted focus groups of nine parents of ASD children without intellectual disabilities. The parents easily differentiated IU from a general dislike of change, including discomfort with unknown situations such as delayed flights on a planned trip; and discomfort with uncertainty even in known situations, when a child moves to middle school and is required to use a pen instead of a pencil but is afraid she might make a mistake and not be able to erase it.…”

Section: Intolerance Of Uncertainty In Asdmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sensory, Emotional and Cognitive Contributions to Anxiety in Autism Spectrum Disorders

South

Rodgers

2017

Front. Hum. Neurosci.

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199

153

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Severe symptoms of anxiety add substantial additional burden to many individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Improved understanding of specific factors that contribute to anxiety in ASD can aid research regarding the causes of autism and also provide targets for more effective intervention. This mini-review article focuses on emerging evidence for three concepts that appear to be related to each other and which also strongly predict anxiety in ASD samples. Atypical sensory function is included in the diagnostic criteria for ASD and is likely an important contributor to anxiety. Difficulties in understanding and labeling emotions (alexithymia), although a co-morbidity, may arise in part from atypical sensory function and can lead to confusion and uncertainty about how to respond to social and emotional situations. Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) describes people who have a particularly hard time with ambiguity and is known to be a key mechanism underlying some anxiety disorders. While evidence for linking these ideas is to date incomplete, we put forward a model including each concept as a framework for future studies. Specifically, we propose that IU is a critical mediator for anxiety in ASD, and explore the relationships between sensory function, alexithymia and IU. We further explore the role of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in regulating emotional response, in connection with limbic and insula-based networks, and suggest that disrupted integration in these networks underlies difficulties with habituation to strong emotional stimuli, which results in an enhanced perception of threat in many people with ASD. Behavioral and biologically-based treatments for anxiety in ASD will benefit from attending to these specific mechanisms as adjunct to traditional interventions.

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Section: Intolerance Of Uncertainty In Asdmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sensory, Emotional and Cognitive Contributions to Anxiety in Autism Spectrum Disorders

South

Rodgers

2017

Front. Hum. Neurosci.

Self Cite

199

153

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“…Using factor analytic techniques, the study identified four valid anxiety subscales, including an uncertainty scale. Hodgsonet al ( 2017 ) undertook focus groups with parents of autistic young people exploring the concept of IU. Parents differentiated IU from dislike of change and from fear, discussed examples of IU and its impact on their children, and suggested that IU is a recognisable and important construct associated with anxiety that is distinguishable from but related to features of ASD.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Towards a Treatment for Intolerance of Uncertainty for Autistic Adults: A Single Case Experimental Design Study

Rodgers

Herrema

Honey

et al. 2018

J Autism Dev Disord

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Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) is indicated as an important transdiagnostic process variable in a range of anxiety disorders. Anxiety is very common in autistic adults. This study evaluates a manualised treatment programme for autistic adults, which focused on IU. An eight session programme (CUES-A©) was developed and delivered to four autistic adults on an individual basis. A single case experimental design was used to provide a preliminary evaluation of the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary effectiveness of the programme. Data regarding retention, acceptability and feasibility indicate that the participants valued the programme. Analyses of outcome measures indicate that the programme has promise as a treatment option for autistic adults experiencing IU.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s10803-018-3550-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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“…Given evidence of an association between IU and anxiety in the typically developing population, researchers have been investigating this association in young people with ASD. IU has been found to be a recognisable construct in children with ASD, as identified by parents (Hodgson, Freeston, Honey & Rodgers, 2016). Evidence suggests that it may act as a mediator between ASD symptoms and anxiety with higher levels of IU in ASD accounting for the greater rates of anxiety associated with the disorder (Boulter, Freeston, South & Rodgers., 2014).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Anxiety, Intolerance of Uncertainty and Restricted and Repetitive Behaviour: Insights Directly from Young People with ASD

Joyce

Honey

Leekam

et al. 2017

J Autism Dev Disord

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127

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Facing the Unknown: Intolerance of Uncertainty in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract: Participants were able to identify and provide examples of IU suggesting that it is a recognizable construct among children with ASD.

Cited by 58 publications

References 36 publications

Sensory, Emotional and Cognitive Contributions to Anxiety in Autism Spectrum Disorders

Sensory, Emotional and Cognitive Contributions to Anxiety in Autism Spectrum Disorders

Towards a Treatment for Intolerance of Uncertainty for Autistic Adults: A Single Case Experimental Design Study

Anxiety, Intolerance of Uncertainty and Restricted and Repetitive Behaviour: Insights Directly from Young People with ASD

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