Cognitive behavioural therapy for anxiety in a man with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual Disability, and social phobia

Abstract

Purpose

This paper evaluates the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) in the treatment of social anxiety with a 19-year-old man with intellectual disabilities (ID) and autistic spectrum disorders.

Design/methodology/approach

The intervention was evaluated using an A-B single case design. An idiosyncratic measure was developed to measure anxiety symptoms on a daily basis. The brief symptom inventory (BSI; Derogatis, 1975) measured symptom patterns across nine psychological dimensions and was administered at initial assessment, pre-intervention and post-intervention.

Findings

Visual and statistical analysis of the data showed that anxiety severity dramatically reduced throughout the course of therapy, reaching and maintaining zero and this was statistically significant. Data seemed to show that sudden gains in the reduction of anxiety severity occurred during the relaxation and cognitive phases of intervention. This sudden gain coincided with an increase in daily activities, and exposure to more anxiety provoking events which was also statistically significant. Global anxiety scores, as measured by the BSI, showed a notable reduction at post-treatment.

Originality/value

This paper demonstrates that CBT can bring about meaningful improvements in the treatment of anxiety in people with ID and autism and suggests that further exploration with the wider population is needed.

Citation

Paul Wright, K. (2013), "Cognitive behavioural therapy for anxiety in a man with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual Disability, and social phobia", Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, Vol. 7 No. 5, pp. 284-292. https://doi.org/10.1108/AMHID-06-2013-0040