Filmed November 2015 – edited into 7 parts; total 76 minutes
This page has been designed to support Webinar 2 Looking Beyond Autism: Treating Anxiety, Depression and OCD in Children and Youth with ASD.
The previous webinar, Recognizing Mental Health Disorders, focused on raising awareness of ASD; higher incidences of mental health conditions among children and adults with ASD; Behavior Analysts and the mental health team; eligible services from Children and Youth Mental Health teams or from Development Disability Mental Health Teams.
Page Index
Video: Introduction – Deborah Pugh
Video: Anxiety – Melanie McConnell
Presenter: Melanie McConnell, PhD, RPsych in Neuropsychiatry, BC Children’s Hospital Clinical Instructor in Psychiatry; Clinical Investigator, Child and Family Research Institute; Clinical Instructor, UBC Developmental Disorders Program
Children and youth with ASD are at an increased risk for developing anxiety, which often exacerbates core autism symptoms. The anxiety can interfere with social development, life skills, academic achievement and relationships. Anxiety symptoms are often incorrectly attributed to ASD, and this diagnostic overshadowing is a barrier to accessing treatment.
Resources from the presentation
- Chalfant (2012). Managing Anxiety in People with Autism
- Davis & White (2014). Handbook of Autism and Anxiety
- Reaven, Blakley-Smith, & Nichols (2011). Facing Your Fears: Group Therapy for Managing Anxiety in Children with High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders
- McGuire et al (2016). Irritability and Problem Behavior in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Practice Pathway for Pediatric Primary Care. Pediatrics, 137 (2).
- Van Steensel, F. J. A., Bögels, S. M., & Perrin, S. (2011). Anxiety Disorders in Children and Adolescents with Autistic Spectrum Disorders: A Meta-Analysis. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 14(3), 302–317.
- Vasa et al. (2016). Assessment and Treatment of Anxiety in Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Pediatrics, 137 (2).
Additional Resources
- Anxiety Treatment Made Specifically for Children With Autism Works Better Than Other Treatment Programs (York University’s ASD Treatment and Care Research Group)
- Feeling Different From Others May Be Linked to Depression in Youth With Asperger Syndrome (York University’s ASD Treatment and Care Research Group)
- Nadeau, Joshua et al (2011). Treatment of comorbid anxiety and autism spectrum disorders
Video: OCD – David Worling
Presenter: Dr. David Worling, RPsych, Clinical Director, Westcoast Child Development Group
In distinguishing between typical OCD features and more typical ASD features, there is a need to take into account: emotional valence of the thoughts and compulsions; content of the obsessions and compulsions; function of the obsessive-compulsive behaviors and patterns of restrictive and repetitive behaviors.
Resources from the presentation:
- Children’s Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale in Autism Spectrum Disorder (CYBOCS-ASD) (Scahill et. al., 2014)
- What is OCD? Canadian Mental Health Association
- Understand the Facts: OCD. Anxiety and Depression Association of America
Additional Resources
- March, John (2016). Talking Back to OCD – The Program That Helps Kids and Teens Say “No Way” — and Parents Say “Way to Go”
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder – OCD and ASD: How are they different? Montague, Rachel PhD with Rastall, Emily PhD
- Stone, William & Grace Chan (2015) Comorbidity of Autism Spectrum and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders
Video: Depression – Anthony Bailey
Presenter: Professor Anthony Bailey, Ph.D., Chair Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of British Columbia.
Video: Panelist Georgina Robinson
Video: Panelist David Batstone
Video: Questions and Answers
Screening and Assessment
- The Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire: A free resource with versions for children from 2 – 17 and for self-reporting -18+. www.sdqinfo.org
- Vasa et al. (2016). Assessment and Treatment of Anxiety in Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Pediatrics, 137 (2).
Cognitive Behavior Therapy
Key modifications for ASD include: parents as “coach” or co-therapist; increase visual supports and hands-on activities; use modelling/practice/repetition to support generalization; incorporate special interests; provide positive reinforcement/rewards; address underlying skills deficits.
- Attwood (2004). Exploring Feelings: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy to Manage Anxiety.
- Scarpa, White, & Attwood (2013). CBT for Children and Adolescents with High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders.
- Group CBT for Adults With AS and Anxiety or Depression (York University’s ASD Treatment and Care Research Group)
Community Resources
- Find local Children and Youth with Diverse Needs offices: www.actcommunity.ca/resource/2928/
- Find local Child and Youth Mental Health offices: www.actcommunity.ca/resource/2927/
- Find local Development Disabilities Mental Health offices using the postal code search in the Autism Information Database (AID)
- Family System Interventions for Families of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Goepfert, Eric et al. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics , Volume 24 , Issue 3 , 571 – 583
- The Experiences of Late-diagnosed Women with Autism Spectrum Conditions: An Investigation of the Female Autism Phenotype. Bargiela, S et al. J Autism Dev Disord. 2016 Oct;46(10):32 81-94
- Community-based Respite Care May Help Decrease Psychiatric Hospitalizations in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (York University’s ASD Treatment and Care Research Group)
- Loneliness, Friendship, and Well-Being in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders (York University’s ASD Treatment and Care Research Group)
OMHAP Project Looking Beyond Autism
Video and resources from Webinar 1: Recognising Mental Health Disorders
Contact ACT for more information or search the AID for more resources.
Learning Objectives – Treating Anxiety, Depression and OCD:
Identify specific environmental changes important in the reduction of precipitating and maintaining factors for mental health disorders.
Employ specific techniques to approach diagnosis and care of children and youth with developmental issues co-morbid with common mental health disorders.
Describe and distinguish the available treatment options, including the associated benefits, limitations and risks of specific medications for treating core symptoms of ASD.
Recognize the importance of cognitive behavioral approaches to treating anxiety, depression and OCD in ASD, with modifications.
Access and utilize resources and tools to support care of children and youth with developmental issues and mental health disorders in a primary care setting.