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The effectiveness of an attention-based intervention for school-aged autistic children with anger regulating problems: A randomized controlled trial.

Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism Research
October 1, 2022
Pamela Clifford et al. (5 authors)
Journal ArticleRandomized Controlled TrialResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tHuman StudyClinical
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to determine if attention-based cognitive behavioral treatment (combining MBCT and DBT) reduces aggressive behavior and improves anger coping in school-aged autistic children.

Results Summary

The treatment reduced temper tantrums and arguing, and increased adaptive coping strategies like diffusion and social support seeking, but had no effect on other aggression domains (e.g., destroying things, physical violence) or maladaptive coping strategies. No impact was observed on secondary outcomes like quality of life or parental stress.

Population

School-aged children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) (n = 51).

Effective Dosage

Nine weekly sessions of individual therapy for children; three weekly psychoeducation group sessions for parents.

Duration

Nine weeks.

Interactions

None mentioned.

Extracted Claims (13)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
attention-based cognitive behavioral treatment, based on mindfulness cognitive therapy (MBCT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
decrease
temper tantrums
school-aged autistic children
-
reduced
#1
attention-based cognitive behavioral treatment, based on mindfulness cognitive therapy (MBCT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
decrease
arguing
school-aged autistic children
-
reduced
#2
attention-based cognitive behavioral treatment, based on mindfulness cognitive therapy (MBCT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
no change
destroying things
school-aged autistic children
no significant change
No effect was found
#3
attention-based cognitive behavioral treatment, based on mindfulness cognitive therapy (MBCT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
no change
physical violence
school-aged autistic children
no significant change
No effect was found
#4
attention-based cognitive behavioral treatment, based on mindfulness cognitive therapy (MBCT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
increase
adaptive coping strategies of diffusion
school-aged autistic children
-
increased
#5
attention-based cognitive behavioral treatment, based on mindfulness cognitive therapy (MBCT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
increase
adaptive coping strategies of social support seeking
school-aged autistic children
-
increased
#6
attention-based cognitive behavioral treatment, based on mindfulness cognitive therapy (MBCT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
no change
assertion
school-aged autistic children
no significant change
had no effect
#7
attention-based cognitive behavioral treatment, based on mindfulness cognitive therapy (MBCT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
no change
rumination
school-aged autistic children
no significant change
had no effect
#8
attention-based cognitive behavioral treatment, based on mindfulness cognitive therapy (MBCT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
no change
maladaptive coping direct anger out
school-aged autistic children
no significant change
had no effect
#9
attention-based cognitive behavioral treatment, based on mindfulness cognitive therapy (MBCT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
no change
avoidance
school-aged autistic children
no significant change
had no effect
#10
attention-based cognitive behavioral treatment, based on mindfulness cognitive therapy (MBCT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
no change
children's quality of life (QoL)
school-aged autistic children
no significant change
did not impact
#11
attention-based cognitive behavioral treatment, based on mindfulness cognitive therapy (MBCT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
no change
parental stress-levels
school-aged autistic children
no significant change
did not impact
#12
attention-based cognitive behavioral treatment, based on mindfulness cognitive therapy (MBCT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
no change
parental psychological well-being
school-aged autistic children
no significant change
did not impact
#13
Abstract

Anger regulation is a challenge for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). We investigated if attention-based cognitive behavioral treatment, based on mindfulness cognitive therapy (MBCT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), reduces aggressive behavior and improves anger coping in school-aged autistic children (n = 51). Children were randomized to an active-control or a treatment condition. The treatment included nine weekly sessions attention-based individual therapy. Parents in both conditions received three weekly psychoeducation group sessions to heighten awareness of expressed emotion (EE). For aggressive behavior, treatment reduced temper tantrums and arguing. No effect was found on destroying things and physical violence. For anger coping, treatment increased adaptive coping strategies of diffusion and social support seeking, but had no effect on assertion, rumination, and maladaptive coping direct anger out and avoidance. Treatment did not impact secondary outcome measures concerning children's quality of life (QoL) and parental stress-levels and psychological well-being. In conclusion, school-aged autistic children are able to acquire self-regulation skills reducing temper tantrums and arguing and increasing the use of adaptive anger coping strategies. The intervention shows potential to improve behavior and regulation, but little transfer to other domains. Limitations and future directions involving the child's social environment, including parents, siblings, and teachers are discussed. LAY SUMMARY: Children on the autism spectrum often show aggressive behavior. Treatment can train children to be more aware of their emotions. This study found that this can help reducing temper tantrums and arguing and increasing some coping skills, though no impact was found on several other domains of aggression and coping.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
AngerAutism Spectrum DisorderAutistic DisorderChildCognitive Behavioral TherapyHumansQuality of Life
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy65/10
Quality75/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations3
Citations/Year1.0
Relative Citation Ratio0.67
NIH Percentile35.8%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.25
Weight Score2.33
Normalized Score0.61
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