How to Improve the Mental Health of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Trends in Research Using Salivary Cortisol Secretions

This study identified patterns of therapist delivery of evidence-based intervention strategies with children with autism spectrum disorder within publicly funded mental health services and compared patterns for therapists delivering usual care to those trained in AIM HI (“An Individualized Mental Health Intervention for ASD”). Data were drawn from a randomized community effectiveness trial and included a subsample of 159 therapists (86% female) providing outpatient or school-based psychotherapy. Therapist strategies were measured via observational coding of psychotherapy session recordings. Exploratory factor analysis used to examine patterns of strategy delivery showed that among therapists in the usual care condition, strategies loaded onto the single factor, General Strategies, whereas for therapists in the AIM HI training condition, strategies grouped onto two factors, Autism Engagement Strategies and Active Teaching Strategies. Among usual care therapists, General Strategies were associated with an increase in child behavior problems, whereas for AIM HI therapists, Active Teaching Strategies were associated with reductions in child behavior problems over 18 months. Results support the effectiveness of training therapists in evidence-based interventions to increase the specificity of strategies delivered to children with autism spectrum disorder served in publicly funded mental health settings. Findings also support the use of active teaching strategies in reducing challenging behaviors. Lay abstract This study was conducted to identify patterns of therapist delivery of evidence-based intervention strategies with children with autism spectrum disorder receiving publicly funded mental health services and compare strategy use for therapists delivering usual care to those trained to deliver AIM HI (“An Individualized Mental Health Intervention for ASD”), an intervention designed to reduce challenging behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorder. For therapists trained in AIM HI, intervention strategies grouped onto two factors, Autism Engagement Strategies and Active Teaching Strategies, while strategies used by usual care therapists grouped onto a broader single factor, General Strategies. Among usual care therapists, General Strategies were related to an increase in child behavior problems, whereas for AIM HI therapists, Active Teaching Strategies were related with reductions in child behavior problems over 18 months. Findings support the use of active teaching strategies in reducing challenging behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorder and provide support for the effectiveness of training therapists in evidence-based interventions to promote the delivery of targeted, specific intervention strategies to children with autism spectrum disorder in mental health services.

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Attitude, anxiety and perceived mental health care needs among parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Saudi Arabia during COVID-19 pandemic

Research in Developmental Disabilities ◽

10.1016/j.ridd.2021.103873 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 111 ◽

pp. 103873

Author(s):

Youssef Althiabi

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Care ◽

Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽

Saudi Arabia ◽

Mental Health Care ◽

Children With Autism ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Spectrum Disorder ◽

Health Care Needs ◽

Care Needs

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Sensory processing in children with autism spectrum disorder and the mental health of primary caregivers

Brain and Development ◽

10.1016/j.braindev.2018.11.005 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 41 (4) ◽

pp. 341-351 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Kanae Suzuki ◽

Shu Takagai ◽

Masatsugu Tsujii ◽

Hiroyuki Ito ◽

Tomoko Nishimura ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽

Sensory Processing ◽

Primary Caregivers ◽

Children With Autism ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Spectrum Disorder

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Predicting Mental Health and Psychological Wellbeing in Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Roles of Intolerance of Uncertainty and Coping

Autism Research ◽

10.1002/aur.2341 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (10) ◽

pp. 1797-1801

Author(s):

Ru Ying Cai ◽

Mirko Uljarević ◽

Susan R. Leekam

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽

Intolerance Of Uncertainty ◽

Children With Autism ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Spectrum Disorder ◽

Psychological Wellbeing ◽

And Coping

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Mental Health and Coping in Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Singapore: An Examination of Gender Role in Caring

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders ◽

10.1007/s10803-019-03900-w ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 49 (5) ◽

pp. 2129-2145 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Karen Qian Ping Ang ◽

Pek Ru Loh

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽

Gender Role ◽

Children With Autism ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Spectrum Disorder ◽

And Coping

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Emergent life events in the delivery of a caregiver-mediated evidence-based intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder in publicly funded mental health services

Autism ◽

10.1177/1362361319881084 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 24 (5) ◽

pp. 1286-1299

Author(s):

Teresa Lind ◽

Anna S Lau ◽

Christopher Gomez ◽

Adriana Rodriguez ◽

Karen Guan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽

Life Events ◽

Children With Autism ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Health Intervention ◽

Spectrum Disorder ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Mental Health Intervention ◽

Therapy Sessions

Mental health clinicians often report significant challenges when delivering evidence-based interventions in community settings, particularly when unexpected client stressors (or emergent life events) interfere with the therapy process. The current study sought to extend the study of emergent life events to children with autism spectrum disorder by examining the occurrence and impact of emergent life events in the context of a collaborative, caregiver-mediated intervention for reducing challenging behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorder, An Individualized Mental Health Intervention for ASD (AIM HI). Participants included 38 child–clinician dyads enrolled in a community effectiveness trial of An Individualized Mental Health Intervention for ASD. Video recordings of 100 therapy sessions were coded for caregiver-reported emergent life events and clinician adherence to the Individualized Mental Health Intervention for ASD protocol. Results indicated that mild to severe emergent life events were reported in 36% of sessions, and were reported for 58% of children at some point during treatment. Greater number of child comorbid diagnoses and less clinician experience were both significantly associated with a higher number of caregiver-reported emergent life events. There was no significant link between emergent life events and clinician adherence to the Individualized Mental Health Intervention for ASD protocol. Findings offer implications for evidence-based intervention implementation, particularly the importance of incorporating clinician training in addressing complex presentations and crises in the context of evidence-based interventions. Lay abstract Mental health clinicians often report significant challenges when delivering evidence-based interventions (EBI) in community settings, particularly when unexpected client stressors (or emergent life events; ELEs) interfere with the therapy process. The current study sought to extend the study of ELEs to children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) by examining the occurrence and impact of ELEs in the context of a collaborative, caregiver-mediated intervention for reducing challenging behaviors in children with ASD. This intervention was An Individualized Mental Health Intervention for children with ASD (referred to as AIM HI). Participants included 38 clinicians and child clients who were enrolled in a community effectiveness trial of AIM HI. Video recordings of 100 therapy sessions were coded for caregiver-reported ELEs and also how well clinicians adhered to the AIM HI protocol. Results indicated that mild to severe ELEs were reported in 36% of therapy sessions, and were reported for 58% of children at some point during the intervention. Children who had a greater number of diagnoses (in addition to the autism diagnosis) tended to have more ELEs. In addition, clinicians with less years of experience tended to have sessions with more ELEs. There was no significant link between ELEs and how well clinicians adhered to the AIM HI protocol. Findings offer implications for the implementation of EBI, particularly the importance of incorporating clinician training in addressing complex presentations and crises in the context of EBIs.

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Microaggression Experiences of Fathers With Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

The Family Journal ◽

10.1177/1066480719832512 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 27 (2) ◽

pp. 199-208

Author(s):

Michael D. Hannon ◽

Raymond Blanchard ◽

Cassandra A. Storlie

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽

Children With Autism ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Phenomenological Analysis ◽

Additional Research ◽

Spectrum Disorder ◽

Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis ◽

Family Wellness

Using interpretive phenomenological analysis, we interviewed six fathers to learn about their experiences in acclimating others to their children’s autism spectrum diagnoses. Results indicate a need for counselors to understand and support clients who experience frequent microaggressions and stereotyping related to autism spectrum disorder and its subsequent influence on fathers’ mental health and family wellness. Recommendations for working with families of individuals with autism and additional research are presented.

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