Randomized Controlled Trial
Abstract
Background: High rates of anxiety disorders, particularly Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) are reported in people with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Group cognitive behavioural (CBT) treatment has been found effective for anxiety in young people with ASD but not been OCD specific. One uncontrolled pilot study of individual CBT for OCD for adults with ASD showed good treatment efficacy. Methods: Forty-six adolescents and adults (mean age 26.9 years, 35 Males) with ASD and comorbid OCD were randomized to CBT for OCD or Anxiety Management (AM), a plausible control treatment. Treatments were matched in duration (mean of 17.4 sessions CBT; 14.4 sessions AM), the Yale Brown Obsessive Compulsive Severity Scale (YBOCS) as primary outcome measure and evaluations blind to treatment group. Treatment response was defined as >25% reduction in YBOCS total severity scores. Results: Both treatments produced a significant reduction in OCD symptoms, within-group effect sizes of 1.01 CBT group and 0.6 for the AM group. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups at end of treatment, althoughmore responders in the CBT group (45% vs 20%). Effect sizes for self-rated improvement were small (0.33 CBT group; -0.05 AM group). Mild symptom severity was associated with improvement in the AM but not the CBT group. Family/carer factors were important for both groups,
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design.
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