In this episode, let’s talk about why anxiety is unrecognised in individuals with autism, how to recognise the signs of anxiety and how to help individuals with autism manage their anxiety symptoms.

References:

Boulter, C., Freeston, M., South, M., & Rodgers, J. (2014). Intolerance of uncertainty as a framework for understanding anxiety in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 44(6), 1391-1402. doi: 10.1007/s10803-013-2001-x.

Ehrenreich-May, J., Storch, E.A., Queen, A.H., Rodriguez, J.H., Ghilain, C.S., Alessandri, M., Lewin, A.B., Arnold, E.B., Murphy, T.K., Lin, C.E., Fuji, C., Renno, P., Piacentini, J., Laugeson, E., & Wood, J.J. (2014). An open trial of cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety disorders in adolescents with autism spectrum disorders. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 29(3), 145-155. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/1088357614533381.

Green, S.A., & Ben-Sasson, A. (2010). Anxiety disorders and sensory over-responsivity in children with autism spectrum disorders: Is there a causal relationship? Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 40, 1495-1504. doi: 10.1007/s10803-010-1007-x.

Rodgers, J., & Ofield, A. (2018). Understanding, recognising and treating co-occurring anxiety in autism. Current Developmental Disorders Reports, 5, 58-64h. doi: 10.1007/s40474-018-0132-7.

South, M., Rodgers, J., & Van Hecke, A. (2017). Anxiety and ASD: Current progress and ongoing challenges. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 47, 3679-3681. doi: 10.1007/s10803-017-3322-y.

White, S.W., Oswald, D., Ollendick, T., & Scahill, L. (2009). Anxiety in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders. Clinical Psychology Review, 29, 216-229. doi: 10.1016/j.cpr.2009.01.003.

Wood, J.J., Kendall, P.C., Wood, K.S., Kerns, C.M., Seltzer, M., Small, B.J., Lewin, A.B., & Storch, E.A. (2019). Cognitive behavioral treatments for anxiety in children with autism spectrum disorder: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Psychiatry, 77(5), 1-10. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2019.4160.

Links:

https://raisingchildren.net.au/autism/health-wellbeing/mental-health/anxiety-asd

https://raisingchildren.net.au/autism/school-play-work/school/anxiety-at-school-asd

https://raisingchildren.net.au/autism/behaviour/understanding-behaviour/building-confidence-asd

For more information, head over to Aspect Australia - www.autismspectrum.org.au.

Disclaimer: I'm not a professional, just a student with a passion for autism.