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Addressing Intolerance of Uncertainty in Anxious Young People with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Objectives: Our objective was to develop and evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a parent group intervention targeting IU for young people with ASD.
Methods: Phase One: Focus group were undertaken to inform the development of the intervention materials and trainers’ manual. An eight week manualised intervention programme was developed; CUES, Coping with Uncertainty in Everyday Situations. The treatment aimed at providing parents of children with ASD, with effective strategies to reduce their child’s IU in everyday situations. Phase Two: The intervention was delivered in two staggered parent intervention groups to eight parents of children with ASD, aged between 8 and 12 years. The intervention included in-session activities and homework tasks. Baseline and outcome measures assessing child and parent anxiety and IU were completed. Individual follow-up interviews were undertaken with parents to ascertain acceptability and feasibility.
Results: Attendance at and retention to the intervention programme was good. Findings demonstrated the intervention to be acceptable and feasible to families. Parents reported a reduction in their own and their child’s intolerance of uncertainty and anxiety subsequent to participation on the programme.
Conclusions: The findings indicate that parents of young people with ASD view an intervention which focuses on intolerance of uncertainty to be valid and meaningful. The data available indicate that CUES may have promise as a targeted package to assist young people with ASD and their families to manage their responses to uncertainty.