Cost-utility analysis of Social Stories™ for children with autism spectrum disorder in mainstream primary schools: results from a randomised controlled trial.

Background: One in 57 children are diagnosed with autism in the UK, and the estimated cost for supporting these children in education is substantial. Social Stories™ is a promising and widely used intervention for supporting children with autism in schools and families. It is believed that Social Stories™ can provide meaningful social information to children that can improve social understanding and may reduce anxiety.

The alleviating specific phobias in children trial: Challenges and solutions to implementing a randomized controlled trial in clinical services.

In 2015, The Alleviating Specific Phobias Experienced by Children Trial (ASPECT) was commissioned by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) to compare the clinical and cost-effectiveness of multi-session Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for specific phobias in children and young people (CYP) (aged 7-16), with a briefer variant called One Session Treatment (OST). From 2016 to 2020, ASPECT recruited = 274 CYP with specific phobias and their families from across England, including 26 Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) centres, three voluntary sector centers and one University-based wellbeing service. Whilst the trial successfully reached its recruitment target, the challenges experienced in its delivery highlight the difficulties of embedding child and adolescent research into clinical settings and routine practice.

One-session treatment for specific phobias: Barriers, facilitators and acceptability as perceived by children & young people, parents, and clinicians.

Between 2015 and 2020 the Alleviating Specific Phobias Experienced by Children Trial (ASPECT) was conducted in the UK to examine the non-inferiority of One-Session Treatment in comparison to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy based interventions for children and young people with specific phobias. A nested qualitative evaluation was conducted as part of this trial to examine the acceptability of One-Session Treatment. Qualitative interviews were conducted with children and young people taking part in the trial, their parents/guardians, and clinicians delivering the intervention, about their experiences and the acceptability of One Session Treatment.

Should Autism Spectrum Conditions Be Characterised in a More Positive Way in Our Modern World?

In a special issue that focuses on complex presentations related to Autism, we ask the question in this editorial whether an Autism Spectrum Condition without complexity is a disorder, or whether it represents human diversity? Much research into Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASCs) over the years has focused on comparisons between neuro-typical people and people with Autism Spectrum Conditions. These comparisons have tended to draw attention to 'deficits' in cognitive abilities and descriptions of behaviours that are characterised as unwanted. Not surprisingly, this is reflected in the classification systems from the World Health Organisation and the American Psychiatric Association.

Is behavioural activation effective in the treatment of depression in young people? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: Depression is currently the leading cause of illness and disability in young people. Evidence suggests that behavioural activation (BA) is an effective treatment for depression in adults but less research focuses on its application with young people. This review therefore examined whether BA is effective in the treatment of depression in young people.

Computerised cognitive-behavioural therapy for depression in adolescents: feasibility results and 4-month outcomes of a UK randomised controlled trial.

Objectives: Computer-administered cognitive-behavioural therapy (CCBT) may be a promising treatment for adolescents with depression, particularly due to its increased availability and accessibility. The feasibility of delivering a randomised controlled trial (RCT) comparing a CCBT program (Stressbusters) with an attention control (self-help websites) for adolescent depression was evaluated.

Design: Single centre RCT feasibility study.