Werken aan het zelfbeeld van kinderen met ASS

Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are at risk to develop low self-esteem, which is related to co-occurring internalizing- and externalizing problems. In this pilot-RCT (N = 24), we aimed to test the effi cacy of Competitive Memory Training (COMET) for low self-esteem in youth with ASD (8-16y). We compared the combination of COMET and Care As Usual (COMET+CAU) with CAU-only, to explore whether COMET had additional effects on low self-esteem and co-occurring symptoms of youth with ASD. Maintenance of effects was measured seven weeks later. Participants receiving COMET+CAU showed greater improvement on parent-reported self-esteem and externalizing symptoms than participants receiving CAU-only. Similar improvements between groups were found on self-reported self-esteem and depressive symptoms. Improvements remained stable until seven weeks after having received COMET+CAU, with depressive symptomatology improving even further. Given the small sample size and mixed results, this pilot study does not allow us to declare COMET as being necessary in enhancing low self-esteem in ASD. However, this study indicates that when given parallel to CAU, COMET can help to improve self-esteem and co-occurring externalizing problems in youth with ASD in only a short period of time.