City Research Online

Abstract

Anxiety in autism is an important treatment target because of its consequences for quality of life and wellbeing. Growing evidence suggests that Cognitive Behaviour Therapies (CBT) and Mindfulness-Based Therapies (MBT) can ameliorate anxiety in autism but cost-effective delivery remains a challenge. This pilot randomized controlled trial examined whether online CBT and MBT self-help programmes could help reduce anxiety in 54 autistic adults who were randomly allocated to either an online CBT (n=16) or MBT (n=19) programme or a waitlist control group (WL; n=19). Primary outcome measures of anxiety, secondary outcome measures of broader wellbeing, and potential process of change variables were collected at baseline, after programme completion, and then 3 and 6 months post-completion. Baseline data confirmed that intolerance of uncertainty and emotional acceptance accounted for up to 61% of self-reported anxiety across all participants. The 23 participants who were retained in the active conditions (14 MBT, 9 CBT) showed significant decreases in anxiety that were maintained over 3, and to some extent also 6 months. Overall, results suggest that online self-help CBT and MBT tools may provide a cost-effective method for delivering mental health support to those autistic adults who can engage effectively with online support tools.

Publication Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Accepted for publication in Autism. Re-use is restricted to non-commercial and no derivatives. Copyright © 2020, the authors.
Publisher Keywords:	Autism; Anxiety; mindfulness; cognitive-behavioral therapy; online
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology R Medicine > RC Internal medicine R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC0321 Neuroscience. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry
Departments:	School of Communication & Creativity > Journalism School of Health & Psychological Sciences > Psychology
SWORD Depositor:	Symplectic Administrator

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