Do individuals with autism spectrum disorders receiving cognitive behavioral therapy have lower levels of anxiety after treatment when compared to a no treatment control group?
Searches
We searched the electronic databases of MEDLINE (1946 to July Week 3 2012), PsycINFO (1967 to July Week 3 2012), and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL; Issue 7 of 12, July 2012) for relevant trials using the attached search strategies. We also hand searched the online first content of the following journals: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, Research in Developmental Disabilities, Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, Autism Research, and Autism.
We will include randomized control trials; all other designs will be excluded.
Condition or domain being studied
Autism Spectrum Disorders
Participants/ population
patient population with a primary diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder
Intervention(s), exposure(s)
cognitive behavioral therapy
Comparator(s)/ control
No treatment control group or waitlist control group; comparison groups in which patients receive an alternative treatment will not be included.
Outcome(s)
Primary outcomes
Anxiety
We will include studies measuring patient anxiety using standardized assessments of anxiety. We will compare the effects of treatment using the post-treatment data period. We will analyze parent, clinician, and child reported outcomes separately for this review.
Secondary outcomes
None
Data extraction, (selection and coding)
Two researchers will extract data from the included studies independently and resolve any discrepancies through resolution or a third party if needed. We anticipate extracting the following variables: number of sessions, study duration in weeks, parental inclusion in treatment procedures, type of CBT (group or individual), type of control condition, sample size, mean pre-treatment age, mean pre-treatment IQ, outcome measure used, type of data analysis used in study (completer or intention to treat), and JADAD score).
Risk of bias (quality) assessment
We will use the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool to assess bias in the included studies. We do not anticipate incorporating the results of this assessment in any synthesis activities at this time.
Strategy for data synthesis
Should enough studies be located we plan to synthesize the data using meta-analytic techniques. Specifically, we plan to combine studies using a fixed effect meta-analysis using the standardized mean difference effect size with small sample correction (Hedges, 1985).
Analysis of subgroups or subsets
If we have adequate power to detect differences between groups we plan to conduct moderator analyses of variables such as study duration, parent participation, CBT format (group or individual), type of measure, mean chronological age, and mean IQ.
Dissemination plans
We plan to submit the results for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
Contact details for further information
Brian Reichow
230 South Frontage Road
New Haven, CT 06520
United States
brian.reichow@yale.edu
Organisational affiliation of the review
Yale Child Study Center
Review team
Dr Brian Reichow, Yale Child Study Center Dr Denis Sukhodolsky, Yale Child Study Center Dr Michael Bloch, Yale Child Study Center Ms Kaityln Panza, Yale Child Study Center
Details of any existing review of the same topic by the same authors
None.
Anticipated or actual start date
03 July 2012
Anticipated completion date
01 January 2013
Funding sources/sponsors
Yale School of Medicine
Conflicts of interest
None known
Language
English
Country
United States of America
Subject index terms status
Subject indexing assigned by CRD
Subject index terms
Anxiety Disorders; Child Development Disorders, Pervasive; Cognitive Therapy; Humans
Date of registration in PROSPERO
04 October 2012
Date of publication of this revision
04 October 2012
Stage of review at time of this submission
Started
Completed
Preliminary searches
Yes
Piloting of the study selection process
Formal screening of search results against eligibility criteria
Data extraction
Risk of bias (quality) assessment
Data analysis
Prospective meta-analysis
PROSPERO This information has been provided by the named contact for this review. CRD has accepted this information in good faith and registered the review in PROSPERO. CRD bears no responsibility or liability for the content of this registration record, any associated files or external websites.
