CBT for Youth With Autism and Emotional/Behavioral Needs in Community Care Settings

Description

This study is a 4-year randomized, controlled trial comparing cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to usual clinical care for children (aged 6-14 years) with autism and emotional dysregulation (e.g., irritability, anxiety). We will randomly assign 50 mental health clinicians, each treating 2 youth (N = 100 youth total), to CBT program for emotional dysregulation and core autism symptoms with weekly live consultation with an expert or to usual clinical care augmented by self-instruction in CBT, in a 1:1 allocation. The CBT manual is well-supported in our efficacy research, has been replicated in other centers, is free/open-access (meya.ucla.edu), and has user-friendly digital and traditional print materials for mental health clinicians (e.g., psychologists, counselors) to use in preparing for and conducting therapy sessions. The primary outcome measure will be assessed weekly. Additional assessments will occur at Screening, Mid-treatment, Post- treatment and 3-month Follow-up.

Conditions

Autism

Study Overview

Study Details

Study overview

This study is a 4-year randomized, controlled trial comparing cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to usual clinical care for children (aged 6-14 years) with autism and emotional dysregulation (e.g., irritability, anxiety). We will randomly assign 50 mental health clinicians, each treating 2 youth (N = 100 youth total), to CBT program for emotional dysregulation and core autism symptoms with weekly live consultation with an expert or to usual clinical care augmented by self-instruction in CBT, in a 1:1 allocation. The CBT manual is well-supported in our efficacy research, has been replicated in other centers, is free/open-access (meya.ucla.edu), and has user-friendly digital and traditional print materials for mental health clinicians (e.g., psychologists, counselors) to use in preparing for and conducting therapy sessions. The primary outcome measure will be assessed weekly. Additional assessments will occur at Screening, Mid-treatment, Post- treatment and 3-month Follow-up.

Effectiveness of Evidence-Based Mental Health Practices for Youth With Autism Supported by Online Consultation to Practitioners in Community and Navy Clinics

CBT for Youth With Autism and Emotional/Behavioral Needs in Community Care Settings

Condition
Autism
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Culver City

Westside Regional Center, Culver City, California, United States, 90024

Sacramento

California Autism Professional Training and Information Network (CAPTAIN), Sacramento, California, United States, 95817

San Diego

Naval Medical Center San Diego, San Diego, California, United States, 92115

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • 1. For participants presenting with severe comorbid symptomology (e.g., psychotic symptoms), the comorbid conditions cannot be sufficiently severe to warrant immediate treatment or require ongoing medication titration.

Ages Eligible for Study

6 Years to 14 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Collaborators and Investigators

University of California, Los Angeles,

Wood, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, University of California

Study Record Dates

2026-06-30