Treatment of anxiety in autistic adults: A systematic review
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Mindfulness-based therapies may be an effective anxiety treatment for autistic adults.
“proposed that mindfulness-based therapies may be an effective anxiety treatment (Menezes et al., 2022).”
A recent systematic review reported inconsistencies regarding the effectiveness of CBT with autistic adults.
“A recent systematic review reported inconsistencies regarding the effectiveness of CBT with autistic adults but proposed that mindfulness-based therapies may be an effective anxiety treatment (Menezes et al., 2022).”
A systematic review identified only 13 studies investigating the efficacy of CBT in treating anxiety in autistic adults, all with small, predominantly male samples.
“A systematic review by Menezes et al. (2022) identified only 13 studies investigating the efficacy of CBT in treating anxiety in autistic adults, which all had small, predominantly male samples.”
From Understanding Autistic Adults' Psychological Experiences of Anxiety Problems: A Qualitative Interview Study. (2026) · cites this paper as Menezes et al., 2022
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- Authors
- Menezes, M., Harkins, C., Robinson, M. F., Pappagianopoulos, J., Cross, R., Vasa, R. A., & Mazurek, M. O.
- Affiliations
- University of Virginia (US)
- Children's Mercy Hospital (US)
- Kennedy Krieger Institute (US)
- Corresponding author
- Menezes, Michelle
- ORCID
- Venue
- Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2022-11
- Volume
- 99
- Pages
- 102068
- ISSN
- 1878-0237 (ISSN-L)
- 1750-9467
- OpenAlex
- W4309047428
- Cited by
- 26
- References
- 59
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 3
- FWCI
- 0.59
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Research in Autism (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Behavioral and Psychological Studies
- Keywords
- autism spectrum disorder, autistic adults, anxiety, anxiety treatment, cognitive behavioral therapy, psychopharmacological treatment, antidepressants, anti-anxiety medication, psychosocial interventions, treatment effectiveness
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