Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Group Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Program Shows Potential in Reducing Symptoms of Depression and Stress Among Young People with ASD

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We examined the efficacy of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) delivered in groups on the reduction of symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress in young people on the autism spectrum. Utilising a quasi-experimental design, comparisons were made between individuals allocated to a group intervention program and individuals allocated to a waitlist. Following the intervention program, participants who were initially symptomatic reported significantly lower depression and stress scores on the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales in comparison to individuals on the waitlist. There was no significant change in anxiety related symptoms. The benefits were maintained at 3 and 9 month follow-up. Our findings demonstrate the potential of CBT in a small group setting for assisting young people with ASD who have symptoms of depression and stress.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anderson, S., & Morris, J. (2006). Cognitive behavioural therapy for people with Asperger syndrome. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 34, 293–303.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anthony, M., Bieling, P., Cox, B., Enns, M., & Swinson, R. (1998). Psychometric properties of the 42 item and 21 item versions of the depression anxiety stress scales in clinical and a community sample. Psychological Assessment, 10(2), 176–181.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baron, G., Lipsitt, L., & Goodwin, M. (2006). Scientific foundations of research and practice. In G. Baron, J. Groden, G. Groden, & L. Lipsitt (Eds.), Stress and coping in Autism (pp. 42–67). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beck, A. T. (1963). Thinking and depression: Theory and therapy. Archives of General Psychiatry, 10, 561–571.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cardaciotto, L., & Herbert, J. (2004). Cognitive behavioural therapy for social anxiety disorder in the context of Asperger’s syndrome: A single-subject report. Cognitive and Behavioural Practice, 11, 75–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cederlund, M., Hagberg, B., & Gillberg, C. (2010). Asperger syndrome in adolescent and young adult males. Interview, self- and parent assessment of social, emotional, and cognitive problems. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 31(2), 287–298. doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2009.09.006.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chalfant, A. M., Rapee, R., & Carroll, L. (2007). Treating anxiety disorders in children with high functioning autism spectrum disorders: A controlled trial. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 37(10), 1842–1857. doi:10.1007/s10803-006-0318-4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Compton, S. N., March, J. S., Brent, D., Albano, A. M., Weersing, V. R., & Curry, J. (2004). Cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy for anxiety and depressive disorders in children and adolescents: An evidence-based medicine review. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 43(8), 930–959. doi:10.1097/01.chi.0000127589.57468.bf.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • de Bruin, E. I., Ferdinand, R. F., Meester, S., de Nijs, P. F., & Verheij, F. (2007). High rates of psychiatric co-morbidity in PDD-NOS. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 37(5), 877–886. doi:10.1007/s10803-006-0215-x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dobson, D., & Dobson, K. (2009). Evidence-based practice of cognitive-behavioural therapy. New York: The Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis, A. (1962). Reason and emotions in psychotherapy. New York: Lyle Stuart.

    Google Scholar 

  • Farrugia, S., & Hudson, J. (2006). Anxiety in Adolescents with Asperger syndrome: Negative thoughts, behavioural problems and life interferences. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 21(1), 25–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frith, U. (1991). Asperger and his syndrome. In U. Frith (Ed.), Autism and Asperger syndrome (pp. 1–36). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Frydenberg, E., & Brandon, C. (2007). The best of coping: Developing coping skills for adolescents. Camberwwell: ACER Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaus, V. (2007). Cognitive behavioural therapy for adult Asperger syndrome. New York: The Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Groden, J., Diller, A., Bausman, M., Velicer, W., Norman, G., & Cautela, J. (2001). The development of a stress survey schedule for persons with autism and other developmental disabilities. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 31(2), 207–217.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hofvander, B., Delorme, R., Chaste, P., Nyden, A., Wentz, E., & Stahlberg, O., et al. (2009). Psychiatric and psychosocial problems in adults with normal-intelligence autism spectrum disorders. BMC Psychiatry, 9(35), [ArtID 35]. doi: 10.1186/1471-244X-9-35.

  • Hollon, S., & Kendall, P. (1980). Cognitive self-statements in depression: Development of an automatic thoughts questionnaire. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 4(4), 383–395.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jacobson, N., & Truax, P. (1991). Clinical significance: A statistical approach to defining meaningful change in psychotherapy research. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 59(1), 12–19.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • James, A., Soler, A., & Weatherall, R. (2005). Cognitive behavioural therapy for anxiety disorders in children and adolescents. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 4: CD004690. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD004690.pub2.

  • Kendall, P., & Hollon, S. (1989). Anxious self-talk: Development of the anxious self-statements questionnaire (ASSQ). Cognitive Therapy and Research, 13(1), 81–93.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kerns, C. M., & Kendall, P. C. (2012). The presentation and classification of anxiety in autism spectrum disorder. Clinical Psychology-Science and Practice, 19(4), 323–347. doi:10.1111/Cpsp.12009.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klein, J. B., Jacobs, R. H., & Reinecke, M. A. (2007). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for adolescent depression: A meta-analytic investigation of changes in effect-size estimates. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 46(11), 1403–1413. doi:10.1097/chi.0b013e3180592aaa.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Klinger, L., & Williams, A. (2009). Cognitive-behavioural interventions for students with Autism spectrum disorders. In M. Mayer, R. Van Acker, J. Lochman, & F. Greshaw (Eds.), Cognitive-behavioural interventions for emotional and behavioural disorders: School-based practice. New York: The Guildford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koenig, K., & Levine, M. (2010). Psychotherapy for individuals with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, 41(1), 29–36. doi:10.1007/s10879-010-9158-9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lang, R., Regester, A., Lauderdale, S., Ashbaugh, K., & Haring, A. (2010). Treatment of anxiety in autism spectrum disorders using cognitive behavioural therapy: A systematic review. Developmental Neurorehabilitation, 13(1), 53–63.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lickel, A., MacLean, W. E., Blakeley-Smith, A., & Hepburn, S. (2012). Assessment of the prerequisite skills for cognitive behavioral therapy in children with and without autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 42(6), 992–1000. doi:10.1007/s10803-011-1330-x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lovibond, S., & Lovibond, P. (1995). The structure of negative emotional states: Comparison of the depression anxiety stress scales (DASS) with the beck depression and axiety inventories. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 33, 335–343.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lugnegard, T., Hallerback, M. U., & Gillberg, C. (2011). Psychiatric comorbidity in young adults with a clinical diagnosis of Asperger syndrome. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 32(5), 1910–1917. doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2011.03.025.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Puleo, C., & Kendall, P. (2011). Anxiety disorders in typically developing youth: Autism spectrum symptoms as a predictor of cognitive-behavioural treatment. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 41, 275–286.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reaven, J. A., Blakeley-Smith, A., Nichols, S., Dasari, M., Flanigan, E., & Hepburn, S. (2009). Cognitive-behavioral group treatment for anxiety symptoms in children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders a pilot study. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 24(1), 27–37. doi:10.1177/1088357608327666.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scarpa, A., & Reyes, N. M. (2011). Improving emotion regulation with CBT in young children with high functioning autism spectrum disorders: a pilot study. Behav Cogn Psychother, 39(4), 495–500. doi:10.1017/S1352465811000063.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Selles, R. R., & Storch, E. A. (2013). Translation of anxiety treatment to youth with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 22(3), 405–413. doi:10.1007/s10826-012-9593-1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sofronoff, K., Attwood, T., & Hinton, S. (2005). A randomised controlled trial of a CBT intervention for anxiety in children with Asperger syndrome. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 46(11), 1152–1160. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7610.2005.00411.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stewart, M. E., Barnard, L., Pearson, J., Hasan, R., & O’Brien, G. (2006). Presentation of depression in autism and Asperger syndrome: A review. Autism, 10(1), 103–116. doi:10.1177/1362361306062013.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sze, K. M., & Wood, J. J. (2007). Cognitive behavioral treatment of comorbid anxiety disorders and social difficulties in children with high-functioning autism: A case report. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, 37(3), 133–143. doi:10.1007/s10879-007-9048-y.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sze, K. M., & Wood, J. J. (2008). Enhancing CBT for the treatment of autism spectrum disorders and concurrent anxiety. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 36(4), 403–409. doi:10.1017/S1352465808004384.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tolin, D. F. (2010). Is cognitive-behavioral therapy more effective than other therapies? A meta-analytic review. Clinical Psychology Review, 30(6), 710–720. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2010.05.003.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Weiss, J., & Lunsky, Y. (2010). Group cognitive behaviour therapy for adults with Asperger Syndrome and anxiety or mood disorder: A case study. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 17, 438–446.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wells, A. (1997). Cognitive therapy of anxiety disorders: A practical manual and conceptual guide. Chichester: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • White, S., Albano, A. M., Johnson, C., Kasari, C., Ollendick, T., Klin, A., et al. (2010). Development of a cognitive-behavioural intervention program to treat anxiety and social deficits in teens with High-Functioning Autism. Clinical Child Family Psychology Review, 13, 77–90.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • White, S. W., Ollendick, T., Albano, A. M., Oswald, D., Johnson, C., Southam-Gerow, M. A., et al. (2013). Randomized controlled trial: Multimodal anxiety and social skill intervention for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 43(2), 382–394. doi:10.1007/s10803-012-1577-x.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • White, S., Ollendick, T., Scahill, L., Oswald, D., & Albano, A. M. (2009a). Preliminary efficacy of a cognitive-behavioural treatment program for anxious youth with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 39, 1652–1662.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • White, S. W., Oswald, D., Ollendick, T., & Scahill, L. (2009b). Anxiety in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders. Clinical Psychology Review, 29(3), 216–229. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2009.01.003.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wood, J., Drahota, A., Sze, K., Har, K., Chiu, A., & Langer, D. (2009). Cognitive behavioural therapy for anxiety in children with autism spectrum disorders: A randomised, controlled trial. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 50(3), 224–234.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wood, J. J., & Gadow, K. D. (2010). Exploring the nature and function of anxiety in youth with autism spectrum disorders. Clinical Psychology-Science and Practice, 17(4), 281–292. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2850.2010.01220.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We acknowledge the Victorian Government for funding this research. We would also like to acknowledge the thoughtful and supportive contributions of the members of the project management team. Most especially, we wish to recognize the individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder who participated.

Conflict of interest

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychology, Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing Research, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, VIC, 3125, Australia

    J. A. McGillivray & H. T. Evert

Authors
  1. J. A. McGillivray
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. H. T. Evert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. A. McGillivray.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

McGillivray, J.A., Evert, H.T. Group Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Program Shows Potential in Reducing Symptoms of Depression and Stress Among Young People with ASD. J Autism Dev Disord 44, 2041–2051 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-014-2087-9

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-014-2087-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation