A Comparison of Two School-Based Interventions to Manage Anxiety in Autistic Students
Principal Investigator: Judy Reaven, PhD
COMIRB: 23-0521
Funding: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute: PCORI #: IDD-2022C1-26330
4/1/2023 – 10/31/2026
Colorado Research Team:
Laura Anthony, Audrey Blakeley-Smith, Richard Boles, Lindsey DeVries, Emily Eisman, Lisa Hayutin, Ainsley Losh, Caitlin Middleton, Sarah Nickles, Zhaoxing Pan, Nuri Reyes and Suhong Tong
What is the goal of the study?
The goal of this study is to compare two-school based programs for anxiety in elementary and middle school autistic students (ages 8-15 years) and determine which one might do a better job of handling anxiety symptoms. We are also interested in obtaining information from the participants (school providers, families, and students) and the feasibility of these programs as well as their overall satisfaction with the interventions.
The two programs are Zones of Regulation (ZOR) and Facing Your Fears in Schools (FYF-S), and both are delivered by interdisciplinary school providers (ISPs) in schools. Recruitment takes place in Colorado and North Carolina schools. A third site, Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, GA is responsible for conducting exit interviews with all participants and coding recorded program sessions for quality control.
Progress so far:
We have enrolled 60 schools (69 school teams), 163 ISPs, and 178 students (and their caregivers) in this study so far. (We had proposed N=200 students and N=150 ISPs so we are close to meeting recruitment goals!). Recruitment is continuing in Colorado and North Carolina. Participating Colorado school districts include: Denver Public Schools, Cherry Creek School District, Englewood School District, Littleton Public Schools, and Colorado Springs D11 School District. We are grateful to our school partners and are excited for our ongoing work together.
Why is this study important?
Anxiety is common for autistic students and can interfere with academic performance, participation in extracurricular activities and social functioning. If untreated, anxiety may persist in adulthood, contributing to other mental health issues. Many autistic students face difficulty accessing therapeutic services outside of school due to lack of qualified providers, long wait lists, and financial constraints. It is hoped that the results of this study will indicate that anxiety for autistic students can be successfully addressed in schools and provide valuable insights for school administrators, ISPs, and families to make informed decisions about program selection for autistic students with anxiety.
Next steps?
We will continue to recruit schools, ISPs, and students to participate in the study this fall. Once data is collection is complete and analyzed, we will share our findings with the community. Please contact Judy Reaven, PhD for more information.