Virtual delivery of group-based cognitive behavioral therapy for autistic children and youth during the COVID-19 pandemic was acceptable, feasible, and effective.

Anxiety challenges co-occur at a high rate in autistic children and youth (~ 50-79%), often with significant interference with daily functioning. Evidence-based interventions (e.g.

The GO4KIDDS Brief Adaptive Scale.

Background: Accurate measurement of adaptive behaviour is important in both clinical and research contexts. While several good clinical measures exist, as well as brief research measures for adults with intellectual disability, there is need for a brief and efficient measure for research with children and youth. We present preliminary psychometric properties of a new scale we developed for such purposes, the GO4KIDDS Brief Adaptive Behaviour Scale.

Exploring the proposed DSM-5 criteria in a clinical sample.

The proposed DSM-5 criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) depart substantially from the previous DSM-IV criteria. In this file review study of 131 children aged 2-12, previously diagnosed with either Autistic Disorder or Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS), 63 % met the new DSM-5 ASD criteria, including 81 % previously diagnosed with Autistic Disorder and only 17 % of those with PDD-NOS. The proportion of children meeting DSM-5 differed by IQ grouping as well, with higher rates in lower IQ groups.