The development of a psychoeducation tool to manage anxiety in people with Autism Spectrum Disorders: the Managing Anxiety iN Autism GuidE (MANAGE) | C4C

A large proportion of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD; 70-90%) have significant additional psychiatric disorders that impair their everyday functioning and reduce quality of life. Anxiety disorders are amongst the most common additional psychiatric disorders (40% people with ASD). A recent consultation by Autistica found interventions for anxiety were a high priority and that there was concern regarding the use of medication. There is a need for effective psychological interventions that are widely accessible for people with ASD. The research team, with expert clinicians, parents/carers and people with ASD, developed a set of psychoeducation guides designed to be accessible by parents/carers and older children, adolescents and adults with ASD to help them recognize and manage anxiety symptoms in ASD. Ethical approval has been given for a pilot trial of 30 families to evaluate the efficacy of this psychoeducation intervention across an eight week period.