NCT06904508

Brain Activity Changes After Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety in Autistic Youth From High-Need Communities

Electrophysiological Correlates of Anxiety-related Improvements Following Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Autistic Youth in High-Need Communities

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 60 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Montclair State University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 8 Years – 14 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate neural constructs related to anxiety symptoms in response to Facing Your Fears (FYF) treatment in autistic participants with co-occurring anxiety. Researchers will compare participants receiving immediate FYF intervention to those in the waitlist control group (receiving treatment as usual) to see if there are differences in neural constructs and anxiety symptom changes over the study period. Participants will: * Complete the Facing Your Fears (FYF) intervention if assigned to the immediate treatment group * Continue their usual treatment during a waitlist period if assigned to the control group, followed by the opportunity to participate in FYF intervention after the waiting period ends * Complete assessments of neural constructs, anxiety symptoms, and other measures

Detailed description

Aims of the study: * How do brain activity patterns (measured by EEG) relate to anxiety symptoms in autistic youth, as reported by both the youth and their parents? * Will brain activity changes line up with improvements in anxiety after FYF treatment in autistic youth from underserved communities? * Will brain activity relate to other factors related to anxiety (e.g., a person's ability to handle uncertainty and manage emotions)?

Conditions

• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Anxiety

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Facing Your Fears (FYF) Intervention: A CBT Focused Group Treatment for Autistic Youth with Anxiety	FYF is an outpatient, multi-family, evidence-based CBT group treatment for children and adolescents ages 8-14 with average intellectual abilities, and a primary co-occurring anxiety diagnosis (social, generalized, separation anxiety, or specific phobia).

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-04-30
• Primary completion: 2027-09-01
• Completion: 2027-09-01
• First posted: 2025-04-01
• Last updated: 2025-06-25

Locations

2 sites across 1 country: United States