2014 International Meeting for Autism Research

May 14 - 17, 2014

Children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are at high risk for developing anxiety symptoms. Cognitive behavioral treatments (CBT) are frequently used in the general population with good success to reduce anxiety. Recently published studies have demonstrated significant reductions in anxiety for youth with ASD following modified CBT interventions (Storch et al. 2013). Because the majority of treatment studies have occurred in controlled university settings, generalizability to other settings is limited. The purpose of this symposium is to discuss variables that may increase the adoptability of evidence-based interventions, maximizing success for clinical practice and narrowing the research-to-practice gap. This symposium also addresses barriers to dissemination of evidenced-based intervention that target anxiety symptoms in youth with ASD, and identifies approaches to fostering the adoption of empirically supported programs for youth with ASD in real-world settings. Four sites were trained in the Facing Your Fears (FYF) program (Reaven et al., 2011) and have implemented the treatment. Session topics include: 1) measurement of anxiety in youth with ASD, with an emphasis on real-world application; 2) mediators of treatment related to implementation; 3) factors that influence the adoption of evidenced-based interventions in clinical settings; and 4) balance between treatment fidelity and model adaptations.