We were unable to draw reliable conclusions about the effectiveness or potential harms of CBT in children with autistic spectrum disorders.
We found evidence that CBT is a feasible treatment option in high-functioning children with ASD. Some children experienced improvements in coping strategies for anxiety promoting situations, behaviour, and social interaction after CBT. However, the lack of reliable controlled studies makes it impossible to attribute these effects to CBT, or to compare effects of CBT with other interventions.