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Functional Behavior-Based Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Obsessive Compulsive Behavior in Children with Autism
Tricia Vause1, Heather Jaksic2,3, Nicole Neil2,4
1Departments of Child and Youth Studies and Applied Disability Studies, Brock University, 1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way, St. Catharines, ON, L2S 3A1, Canada. tvause@brocku.ca.
Abstract:
Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience obsessions and compulsions similar to those specified in DSM-5 for obsessive compulsive disorder yet little controlled research exists on treating these behaviours. Thirty-seven children (7-13 years old) were randomly assigned to a 9-week functional behavior-based cognitive behavior therapy (Fb-CBT) or Treatment As Usual. Independent assessors administered measures pre- and post-treatment and at 6-months. Two primary outcome measures indicated statistically significant differences between groups, with large corrected effect sizes (Hedge's g = 1.00 and 1.15, respectively). This is the first known RCT to exclusively treat obsessive compulsive behaviors (OCBs) in children and youth with high functioning (IQ ≥ 70) ASD, and suggests that Fb-CBT treatment shows promise in decreasing these behaviors and improving quality of life. Trial Registration This trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (ID: NCT03123146).
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