Adaptation of One Session Treatment for Specific Phobias for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Using a Non concurrent Multiple Baseline Design: A Preliminary Investigation
Anxiety disorders are among the most common co occurring disorders for individuals with ASD. Several adaptations to cognitive behavioral approaches have been proposed for this population (Moree Davis, 2010) The current study examined feasibility and preliminary efficacy of an ASD specific adaptation of one session treatment (OST) for specific phobia (SP) Standard OST consists of one 3 h session followed by four weekly phone calls. Modifications for ASD included increased parental involvement, use of visual aids, and inclusion of four 1 h booster sessions in place of the four weekly phone calls. Visual inspection and Friedman tests revealed significant reductions in fear ratings and phobia severity from pre to post treatment and follow up assessments. Modest changes were observed in behavioral avoidance. These findings provide initial evidence that this treatment merits further study.
Journal of autism and developmental disorders