Conducting CBT for Anxiety in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder During COVID-19 Pandemic.

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Abstract

This commentary describes the transition to remote delivery of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for anxiety in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who participates in a clinical trial during the COVID-19 pandemic. The effects of COVID-19 on children's anxiety and on the family functioning are discussed. Modifications to CBT necessitated by telehealth delivery were aimed at maximizing engagement of children and their parents while maintaining treatment fidelity and adhering to the research protocol. Treatment targets were updated to address new sources of anxiety and CBT exposure exercises were modified to accommodate the new reality of quarantine restrictions. If the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect treatment delivery it may require a widespread utilization of telehealth for treating anxiety in children with ASD.

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Challenges and burden of the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic for child and adolescent mental health: a narrative review to highlight clinical and research needs in the acute phase and the long return to normality

Jörg Fegert, Benedetto Vitiello, Paul L. Plener … (2020)

Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is profoundly affecting life around the globe. Isolation, contact restrictions and economic shutdown impose a complete change to the psychosocial environment in affected countries. These measures have the potential to threaten the mental health of children and adolescents significantly. Even though the current crisis can bring with it opportunities for personal growth and family cohesion, disadvantages may outweigh these benefits. Anxiety, lack of peer contact and reduced opportunities for stress regulation are main concerns. Another main threat is an increased risk for parental mental illness, domestic violence and child maltreatment. Especially for children and adolescents with special needs or disadvantages, such as disabilities, trauma experiences, already existing mental health problems, migrant background and low socioeconomic status, this may be a particularly challenging time. To maintain regular and emergency child and adolescent psychiatric treatment during the pandemic is a major challenge but is necessary for limiting long-term consequences for the mental health of children and adolescents. Urgent research questions comprise understanding the mental health effects of social distancing and economic pressure, identifying risk and resilience factors, and preventing long-term consequences, including—but not restricted to—child maltreatment. The efficacy of telepsychiatry is another highly relevant issue is to evaluate the efficacy of telehealth and perfect its applications to child and adolescent psychiatry. Conclusion There are numerous mental health threats associated with the current pandemic and subsequent restrictions. Child and adolescent psychiatrists must ensure continuity of care during all phases of the pandemic. COVID-19-associated mental health risks will disproportionately hit children and adolescents who are already disadvantaged and marginalized. Research is needed to assess the implications of policies enacted to contain the pandemic on mental health of children and adolescents, and to estimate the risk/benefit ratio of measures such as home schooling, in order to be better prepared for future developments.

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Prevalence of co-occurring mental health diagnoses in the autism population: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Meng-Chuan Lai, Caroline Kassee, Richard M. A. Besney … (2019)

Co-occurring mental health or psychiatric conditions are common in autism, impairing quality of life. Reported prevalences of co-occurring mental health or psychiatric conditions in people with autism range widely. Improved prevalence estimates and identification of moderators are needed to enhance recognition and care, and to guide future research.

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Internet-Related Behaviors and Psychological Distress Among Schoolchildren During COVID-19 School Suspension

I-Hua Chen, Chao-Ying Chen, Amir Pakpour … (2020)

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection has rapidly grown worldwide,1 and many governments have implemented policies to control the infection rate. For example, school suspension, self-quarantine, requirement of citizens to stay at home,2 travel and border controls, and discouragement of outdoor activities3 have been used. Although these actions emphasizing the importance of “spatial distancing” are based on the perspective of public health, they may result in health problems other than COVID-19 infection, such as psychological distress and fear.4 Therefore, the present authors examined the potential predictors for psychological distress among schoolchildren during COVID-19 school suspension.

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Author and article information

Journal

Journal ID (iso-abbrev): J Autism Dev Disord

Title: Journal of autism and developmental disorders

Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC

ISSN (Electronic): 1573-3432

ISSN (Print): 0162-3257

Publication date (Electronic): Nov 2021

Volume: 51

Issue: 11

Affiliations

[1 ] Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, 230 S. Frontage Road, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.

[2 ] Department of Psychology, University of Hartford, West Hartford, USA.

[3 ] Department of Education, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA.

[4 ] Department of Psychiatry, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA.

[5 ] Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, 230 S. Frontage Road, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA. denis.sukhodolsky@yale.edu.

Article

Publisher Item ID: 10.1007/s10803-020-04845-1

DOI: 10.1007/s10803-020-04845-1

PMC ID: 7775616

PubMed ID: 33385281

SO-VID: 1c759743-4c35-4308-94c9-d6f20731a31c

History

Keywords: Anxiety,Autism spectrum disorder,COVID-19 pandemic,Cognitive-behavior therapy,Telehealth

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Keywords: Anxiety, Autism spectrum disorder, COVID-19 pandemic, Cognitive-behavior therapy, Telehealth

Conducting CBT for Anxiety in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder During COVID-19 Pandemic.

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Novel Coronavirus Disease COVID-19

Most cited references 19

Challenges and burden of the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic for child and adolescent mental health: a narrative review to highlight clinical and research needs in the acute phase and the long return to normality

Prevalence of co-occurring mental health diagnoses in the autism population: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Internet-Related Behaviors and Psychological Distress Among Schoolchildren During COVID-19 School Suspension

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