Anxiety is a cluster of responses that occur in the presence of a conditioned aversive stimulus that signals future presentation of an aversive stimulus. Although difficult to define and assess, anxiety affects many individuals and is prevalent in those with autism (Mayes et al., 2011). The purpose of this study is to develop a preliminary method for treating anxiety in children with autism when it is found to be present using a concurrent multiple baseline across contexts design. Results thus far demonstrate that anxiety can be assessed in children with autism through behavioral observations in controlled settings as opposed to relying on indirect assessments, as commonly done in previous research on the topic. Following treatment, participants were successfully able to tolerate the signal of the aversive event and the aversive event with minimal to no anxious responding. These data have been presented at NYSABA 2013, ABAI 2015, & BABAT 2015.
Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC)
Autism Research Database (AFD)
