Grant: Doctoral Award - Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarships

It is common for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) to have high rates of concurrent diagnoses, including mood and anxiety disorders. Research suggests that 65%-70% of children with ASD have an additional mental health disorder. It is important to research different interventions as anxiety can greatly interfere in the day-to-day lives of these children. Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) is the primary psychological treatment offered for anxiety disorders in typically developing children, yet only recently has it been used as a treatment for children with ASD and anxiety. This project will examine whether CBT programs designed specifically for addressing anxiety in children with ASD work better and lead to more important changes than programs designed for typically developing children. One such program is Coping Cat, which is widely used by clinicians from community agencies across Canada. I will provide therapy to children with ASD and anxiety, and will compare the treatment outcomes from the program designed for typically developing children, versus a program designed specifically for children with ASD and anxiety. I will also examine different aspects of brain functioning to see whether they predict better treatment outcomes in children with ASD and anxiety. It is of upmost importance for our mental health care system to determine where children are benefiting from these types of therapies, and which interventions lead to better outcomes. This evaluation will contribute to the use of evidence-based therapy in Canada and elsewhere for treating children with ASD and anxiety.