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The People with Asperger syndrome and anxiety disorders (PAsSA) trial: a pilot multicentre, single-blind randomised trial of group cognitive–behavioural therapy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Peter E. Langdon ,
Glynis H. Murphy ,
Lee Shepstone ,
Edward C.F. Wilson ,
David Fowler ,
David Heavens ,
Alexandra Russell ,
Alice Rose ,
Aida Malovic  and
Louise Mullineaux
Peter E. Langdon*
Affiliation:
Tizard Centre, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK; Broadland Clinic, Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust in Norfolk, Norwich, UK
Glynis H. Murphy
Affiliation:
Tizard Centre, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK, and Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, Dartford, UK
Lee Shepstone
Affiliation:
Department of Population Health and Primary Care, Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
Edward C.F. Wilson
Affiliation:
School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
David Fowler
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
David Heavens
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Psychology, Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, and Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, Norwich, UK
Alexandra Russell
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Psychology, Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK, and Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, Norwich, UK
Alice Rose
Affiliation:
Tizard Centre, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK
Aida Malovic
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Psychology, Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK, and Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust in Norfolk, Norwich, UK
Louise Mullineaux
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Psychology, Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK, and Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust in Norfolk, Norwich, UK
*
Peter Langdon, Tizard Centre, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7LR, UK. Email: P.E.Langdon@kent.ac.uk
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Abstract

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Background

There is a growing interest in using cognitive–behavioural therapy (CBT) with people who have Asperger syndrome and comorbid mental health problems.

Aims

To examine whether modified group CBT for clinically significant anxiety in an Asperger syndrome population is feasible and likely to be efficacious.

Method

Using a randomised assessor-blind trial, 52 individuals with Asperger syndrome were randomised into a treatment arm or a waiting-list control arm. After 24 weeks, those in the waiting-list control arm received treatment, while those initially randomised to treatment were followed up for 24 weeks.

Results

The conversion rate for this trial was high (1.6:1), while attrition was 13%. After 24 weeks, there was no significant difference between those randomised to the treatment arm compared with those randomised to the waiting-list control arm on the primary outcome measure, the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety.

Conclusions

Trials of psychological therapies with this population are feasible. Larger definitive trials are now needed.

Type
Research Article
Information
BJPsych Open , Volume 2 , Issue 2 , March 2016 , pp. 179 - 186
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal College of Psychiatrists 2016

Footnotes

Declaration of interest

None.

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