Scandinavian Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology最新文献

{"title":"Interpersonal trust in adolescents with psychiatric disorders and borderline pathology.","authors":"Miana Graves,&nbsp;Francesca Penner,&nbsp;Carla Sharp","doi":"10.21307/sjcapp-2021-020","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21307/sjcapp-2021-020","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Adolescents with features of borderline personality disorder (BPD) may experience deficits in interpersonal trust; however, a simultaneous comparison of interpersonal trust among adolescents with BPD, other psychiatric disorders, and no psychiatric conditions (healthy controls) has never been conducted.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>The aims of this study were to 1) explore differences in interpersonal trust (emotional trust, honesty beliefs, and reliability beliefs) between these three groups, and 2) examine the incremental value of BPD features in association with interpersonal trust over and above internalizing and externalizing.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Adolescents (<i>N</i> = 445, 67.9% female, <i>M</i> <i>_age</i> = 15.13) recruited from two psychiatric hospitals (psychiatric sample, n = 280) and community organizations (healthy sample, n = 165) completed measures of BPD features, interpersonal trust, and internalizing and externalizing psychopathology. Psychiatric adolescents also completed an interview assessing BPD (n = 83 BPD). ANCOVA and hierarchical linear regression were used for analyses.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Emotional trust differed significantly across all three groups, with the lowest level of emotional trust in adolescents with BPD. Reliability was also lower in the two psychiatric groups relative to healthy controls. BPD features were significantly, inversely associated with emotional trust and reliability beliefs when controlling for internalizing and externalizing pathology. Post-hoc analyses testing specificity of the three forms of trust found that lower emotional trust predicted BPD diagnosis over and above the other two forms of trust.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Findings highlight emotional trust as a correlate and important target of intervention for adolescents with BPD, and add to knowledge on interpersonal trust deficits for adolescents with psychiatric disorders more broadly.</p>","PeriodicalId":42655,"journal":{"name":"Scandinavian Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology","volume":"9 ","pages":"176-186"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2021-11-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/4a/59/sjcapp-09-020.PMC8596190.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39897574","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of methylphenidate on height, weight and blood biochemistry parameters in prepubertal boys with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: an open label prospective study.","authors":"Ahmet Çevikaslan,&nbsp;Mesut Parlak,&nbsp;Hamit Yaşar Ellidağ,&nbsp;Sibel Çilingiroğlu Kulaksızoğlu,&nbsp;Necat Yılmaz","doi":"10.21307/sjcapp-2021-018","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21307/sjcapp-2021-018","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> Adverse effects of stimulants on growth in children have long been studied, but the results remain to be clarified, because metabolic changes or predictors accompanying the growth deviations were not sufficiently studied. <b>Objective:</b> This open label-prospective study investigated the effects of methylphenidate (MPH) on weight, height, blood biochemistry in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). <b>Method:</b> Prepubertal boys treated with MPH in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Clinic at Antalya Training and Research Hospital in Health Sciences University, Turkey were recruited. Height and weight z-scores and fasting blood samples were taken at baseline and 6^th month. Changes were compared by paired-samples t-test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Any association between the changes in growth and biochemical values was analyzed by Spearman's Rank-Order Correlation. The statistical significance threshold was p<0.01. <b>Results:</b> 31 boys aged 74 to 104 months were enrolled in the study sample (mean=87.6, Standard Deviation (SD)=9.2). Osmotic release oral system-MPH (18 mg/day) was used in 77.4% (N=24) and immediate release-MPH (5 mg three times a day) in 22.5% (N=7). Average daily drug dose was 0.66 mg/kg (SD=0.12). Baseline weight z-score was 0.63 (SD=1.12), decreased significantly at 6 months (0.24 [SD=1.04]) (Z=-4.44, p=0.000, r=0.5) (median z-score was 0.53 at baseline, -0.11 at 6 months). Baseline height z-score (0.23[SD=0.87]) was not suppressed significantly at 6 months (0.28[SD=0.85])(t(30) = ‒1.50, <i>p</i>=0.14). Glucose (t(30) = -4.33, <i>p</i>=0.000, r=0.6), creatinine (t(30)=-3.28, <i>p</i>=0.003, <i>r</i>=0.5) and 25OH-VitD (N=29, Z=-3.98, <i>p</i>=0.000, <i>r</i>=0.5) increased but alkaline phosphatase (ALP) decreased (t(28)=3.63, <i>p</i>=0.001, <i>r</i>=0.5). The differences in W-SDS and ALP were positively correlated (<i>r</i>=0.47, <i>p</i>=0.009). <b>Conclusions:</b> Our results indicate the importance of monitoring blood variables that may accompany growth changes early in MPH treatment and should be further assessed in larger samples.</p>","PeriodicalId":42655,"journal":{"name":"Scandinavian Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology","volume":"9 ","pages":"163-173"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2021-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/1c/36/sjcapp-09-018.PMC8436573.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39437733","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of the pandemic on the mental health of children and clinical practice in Turkey: a narrative review with recommendations.","authors":"Serkan Turan,&nbsp;Șafak Eray","doi":"10.21307/sjcapp-2021-017","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21307/sjcapp-2021-017","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction The novel coronavirus disease COVID-19, which first appeared on November 17, 2019 in the Hubei province of China, was later declared a public health emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO) (1). The pandemic has drastically changed the lives and daily routines of millions of people worldwide. Numerous factors influence the nature and extent of the pandemic’s impact on children, including developmental age, educational status, special needs status, pre-existing mental health conditions, economic disadvantage, and quarantine status (of children or their family members) (2). The following sections discuss the impact of the pandemic on children and assess the effectiveness of various interventions employed to improve their mental health during pandemics (both previous and current) in Turkey.","PeriodicalId":42655,"journal":{"name":"Scandinavian Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology","volume":"9 ","pages":"160-162"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2021-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/6a/1a/sjcapp-09-017.PMC8351377.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39305861","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Critical Review of Teaching and Learning Methodologies for Learners with Special Educational Needs in the 21st Century and Beyond","authors":"Grant Coke, PhD Monique J.","doi":"10.14302/issn.2643-6655.jcap-21-3888","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.14302/issn.2643-6655.jcap-21-3888","url":null,"abstract":"The number of children with SEN is continuously growing, leading to pressure on the few special schools available in the USA. Furthermore, the adoption of a special school system has been criticized on the basis that it isolates and discriminates against children with special educational needs and disabilities. Even though inclusive education can address such limitations, the application of the most appropriate pedagogical approaches for SEN learners is still a challenge. The presented study focused on critically appraising the pedagogical approaches for SEN learners in the 21st century and beyond. In order to achieve this goal, a systematic review of the literature approach was adopted. The literature search process was conducted on three databases: Education Full Text, Linguistics and Language Behavior Abstracts, and PsycINFO. The selection of these databases was influenced by their reputation of hosting high quality and up-to-date literature about special education. The initial literature search process generated 6129 hits, but only ten studies were finally selected for review after the application of inclusion and exclusion criteria. A critical review of the evidence presented in the selected studies generated eight themes describing various pedagogical approaches for special education, within both blended and mainstream learning environment. Knowledge generated in this systematic review can be used by the special education sector of the U.S to develop pedagogical approaches for SEN students, leading to improved performance and social skill development.","PeriodicalId":42655,"journal":{"name":"Scandinavian Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology","volume":"45 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2021-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"85053412","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Differences in affect integration in children with and without internalizing difficulties.","authors":"Charlotte Fiskum,&nbsp;Tonje Grønning Andersen,&nbsp;Unni Tanum Johns,&nbsp;Karl Jacobsen","doi":"10.21307/sjcapp-2021-016","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21307/sjcapp-2021-016","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Affect represents an important source of information about our internal state and the external world that can motivate and vitalize us. When affect is poorly integrated, this can lead to problems with self-regulation and psychopathology. Few studies have investigated affect integration in children.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study investigates differences in affect integration in children with and without internalizing difficulties.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Thirty-three Norwegian children (aged 9-13) with and 24 children without internalizing difficulties were interviewed with the Affect Consciousness Interview (ACI), a measure of affect integration. Data from the ACI was analyzed across nine affective categories (Interest/Excitement, Enjoyment/Joy, Fear/Panic, Anger/Rage, Shame/Humiliation, Sadness/Despair, Envy/Jealousy, Guilt/Remorse, and Tenderness/Care), and four dimensions (Awareness, Tolerance, Emotional, and Conceptual expressivity).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The children differed significantly in affect integration across all dimensions and all assessed affects, both positive and negative. Emotional Expressivity, Anger/Rage, and Sadness/Despair were particularly less integrated in the children with internalizing problems.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Assessment of affect integration can provide useful information on possible underlying factors in internalizing problems in children and may help guide and personalize therapeutic interventions. Based on knowledge from empirical infant psychology interventions mimicking rich, early intersubjective experiences are recommended to increase affect integration.</p>","PeriodicalId":42655,"journal":{"name":"Scandinavian Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology","volume":"9 ","pages":"147-159"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2021-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/fd/90/sjcapp-09-016.PMC8312267.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39273279","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Psychometric evaluation of the Swedish Child Sheehan Disability Scale in adolescent psychiatric patients.","authors":"Catalina Tores Soler, Sofia Vadlin, Susanne Olofsdotter, Mia Ramklint, Karin Sonnby, Kent Nilsson","doi":"10.21307/sjcapp-2021-015","DOIUrl":"10.21307/sjcapp-2021-015","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> Assessment of disability is part of the psychiatric diagnostic process, and validated scales are needed for the assessment of functioning. The Swedish translations of the Child Sheehan Disability Scale (CSDS) for adolescents and parents (CSDS-P) have been adapted for use in psychiatric settings. <b>Objective:</b> The purpose of the study was to explore the psychometric properties of the Swedish CSDS and the CSDS-P among adolescent psychiatric patients. <b>Method:</b> Patients (n = 107) were assessed with the CSDS, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ adolescent), and the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children-Present and Lifetime version (K-SADS-PL) diagnostic interview. Their parents participated in the interview and completed the CSDS-P and SDQ parent. <b>Results:</b> Internal consistency was α =.813 for the CSDS (three items) and α =.842 for the CSDS-P (five items). For both scales, principal component analyses showed one component. The correlations between the total scores of the CSDS and CSDS-P in relation to a general K-SADS-PL symptom summation index were <i>r_s</i> = .332, <i>p</i> < .001 and <i>r_s</i> = .237, <i>p</i> = .014, respectively. Correlations with the total K-SADS function summation index were <i>r_s</i> < .300 for both. The correlation between the CSDS and the total difficulties score on the SDQ was <i>r_s</i> = .433, <i>p</i> < .001. <b>Conclusions:</b> The Swedish translations of the CSDS and CSDS-P had similar psychometric properties to Whiteside's CSDS and the Adult Sheehan Disability Scale. Concurrent validity and correlation between the CSDS and CSDS-P were weak.</p>","PeriodicalId":42655,"journal":{"name":"Scandinavian Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology","volume":"9 ","pages":"137-146"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2021-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/f6/72/sjcapp-09-015.PMC8254144.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39166369","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Development and initial validation of the Odense Child Trauma Screening: a story stem screening tool for preschool and young schoolchildren.","authors":"Sille Schandorph Løkkegaard,&nbsp;Mette Elmose,&nbsp;Ask Elklit","doi":"10.21307/sjcapp-2021-013","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21307/sjcapp-2021-013","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Early identification of young children exposed to trauma who are at risk of developing post-trauma symptomatology such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or other emotional or behavioral problems is important for allocating appropriate treatment and preventing long-term consequences. However, assessment of young children exposed to trauma is challenging because children may not be able to talk about their trauma or trauma reactions. Story stem tools combine storytelling and play to access the internal world of young children and can be used in the assessment of children exposed to trauma.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To examine reliability and validity of a new story stem tool, the Odense Child Trauma Screening (OCTS). OCTS was developed to screen for play-based behavior and narrative representations indicative of traumatization in preschool and young schoolchildren.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Forty-nine Danish children aged 4.5-8.9 years (M = 6.6, SD = 1.2) participated in the OCTS. Participants included a risk sample of 31 children exposed to traumas and a community sample of 18 children. Caregivers were interviewed about child symptoms of PTSD, major depressive disorder (MDD), and reactive attachment disorder (RAD) and answered the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). The community sample completed OCTS test-retests.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Interrater reliability proved excellent (ICC = .96-1.00). Test-retest reliability was acceptable (ICC = .66). Significant moderate correlations were found between the OCTS total score and scales of PTSD, MDD and RAD and the SDQ Total Difficulties Scale. The ability of the OCTS to discriminate between children from the risk and community sample was good.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The study provided preliminary evidence of reliability and validity of the OCTS as a screening tool for young children exposed to trauma. OCTS shows promise as a standardized, age-appropriate informant-based screening measure applicable for clinical assessment.</p>","PeriodicalId":42655,"journal":{"name":"Scandinavian Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology","volume":"9 ","pages":"113-126"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2021-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/c9/e5/sjcapp-9-013.PMC8216242.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39127150","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Obstacles to diagnostic investigation of a child with comorbid psychiatric conditions.","authors":"Jena Salem,&nbsp;Cheryl Kennedy","doi":"10.21307/sjcapp-2021-012","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21307/sjcapp-2021-012","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Presented here is the unique case of diagnostic investigation for a 16 year old male presenting in an acute state of apparent psychosis. The patient had a long history of previous specialist work-ups, tentative diagnoses, multiple emergency department admissions, and medication trials, all of which failed to produce significant lasting relief. While initial encounters diagnostically centered on autoimmune encephalitis, comprehensive work-ups always drove the differential towards a likely psychiatric disorder. Despite this consistent professional opinion, tentative diagnosis of schizophrenia with underlying Autism Spectrum Disorder was delayed for many years, due to a variety of complicating factors. Overall, this case highlights many different considerations that might assist in avoiding a protracted road to diagnosis, including navigating the obstacles that parental interaction with a complex healthcare system can pose during diagnostic evaluation and recommended treatment as well as, the role of re-interpreting past test results within the context of new literature, and the complexities of diagnosing comorbid psychiatric conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":42655,"journal":{"name":"Scandinavian Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology","volume":"9 ","pages":"105-112"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2021-06-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/9a/7a/sjcapp-9-012.PMC8209754.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39095510","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Changes over time in mental health symptoms among adolescents in Tampere, Finland.","authors":"Noora Knaappila,&nbsp;Mauri Marttunen,&nbsp;Sari Fröjd,&nbsp;Riittakerttu Kaltiala","doi":"10.21307/sjcapp-2021-011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21307/sjcapp-2021-011","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Mental health problems are common in adolescence and seeking help for them is becoming more common. Referrals to adolescent mental healthcare have recently increased in Finland.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To examine time trends in internalizing and externalizing mental health symptoms among Finnish adolescents.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A time-trend school survey was conducted among 9^th graders (15-year-olds) in Tampere, Finland, in three time periods: 2002-03, 2012-13 and 2018-19 (N = 4,162).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Compared to the period 2002-03, prevalence of externalizing symptoms decreased in the period 2012-13 and further in 2018-19. The prevalence of internalizing symptoms did not change significantly between 2002-03 and 2012-13; however, in 2018-19, depression, social anxiety, general anxiety, poor subjective health, stress symptoms among boys, and poor self-esteem increased compared to earlier time periods. The increases were more marked among girls. However, suicidal ideation did not increase in 2018-19 compared to earlier time periods.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Whereas the prevalence of externalizing symptoms decreased among Finnish adolescents between 2002-03 and 2018-19, the prevalence of internalizing symptoms increased between 2012-13 and 2018-19. To help to understand the causes of these increases and to prevent internalizing problems, further research on the underlying causes is needed.</p>","PeriodicalId":42655,"journal":{"name":"Scandinavian Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology","volume":"9 ","pages":"96-104"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2021-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/9d/67/sjcapp-09-011.PMC8132727.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39054083","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"\"Less stress\": a pilot study on a cognitive behavioral treatment program for anxiety in children with autism spectrum disorders.","authors":"Beate Oerbeck,&nbsp;Kristin Romvig Overgaard,&nbsp;Tony Attwood,&nbsp;Jon Fauskanger Bjaastad","doi":"10.21307/sjcapp-2021-005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21307/sjcapp-2021-005","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Comorbid anxiety disorders are prevalent in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), but only a minority receives adequate treatment for anxiety. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been shown to be effective in treating anxiety disorders. The objectives of the present pilot study were to test the feasibility of the CBT program \"Less stress\" for comorbid anxiety disorders in children with ASD and explore whether an improvement in diagnostic outcomes for anxiety disorders and symptoms of anxiety was found after treatment.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Participants were ten children diagnosed with ASD and anxiety disorders (eight boys, mean age = 9.5 years, range 8 - 12 years). The \"Less Stress\" program includes three months of weekly treatment sessions followed by three monthly booster sessions. Five therapists participated. A standardized semi-structured diagnostic interview with the mothers was used to assess comorbid disorders. Child anxiety symptoms were measured with the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The therapists found the manual easy to use but adaptations were necessary, particularly shorter sessions due to frequent (n = 7) comorbid Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. The participants found the program useful and the parents noted that they had learned methods they could continue using after the end of the program.Eight of ten children completed the treatment. Seven of the eight completers benefited from the program. Five of those seven children were free from all anxiety disorders, while two had fewer anxiety disorders. On a group level, a significant mean reduction of anxiety symptoms (RCADS) was found after treatment.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The therapists found the \"Less stress\" program to be a feasible intervention in a sample of children with ASD and comorbid anxiety. The significant reduction of anxiety after treatment is promising, but a replication in a larger and more rigorous study is needed to investigate the effectiveness of the intervention.</p>","PeriodicalId":42655,"journal":{"name":"Scandinavian Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology","volume":"9 ","pages":"30-40"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2021-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/49/c8/sjcapp-09-005.PMC8077410.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38933493","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}