Does Treatment Stigma Among Autistic Adolescents and Guardians of Autistic Adolescents Affect the Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy? An Observational Study

Abstract BackgroundThis study explores how treatment stigma of Autistic adolescents, and their guardians affects the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) interventions.MethodsThe intervention group in the randomization consisted of Autistic adolescents, n = 23 (16 boys, 7 girls, mean age 12.8 years) and their guardians, n = 23 (1 male, 22 females, mean age 44.8 years). Their questionnaire data were used. The changes in the Barriers to Access to Care Evaluation scale version 3 (BACEv3) before the intervention and other tests after the intervention were analyzed using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient.ResultsThe Spearman's rank correlation coefficient analysis showed that the BACEv3 of Autistic adolescents did not correlate with the change in any of the scales. Guardians' BACEv3 was significantly correlated with Autistic adolescents’ Autistic traits knowledge of Autism Spectrum Disorder characteristics and communication of adaptive behavior.ConclusionsThe results suggest that the presence of treatment stigma in Autistic adolescents does not affect CBT interventions. It was also suggested that guardianship treatment stigma did not reduce the effectiveness of CBT interventions for Autistic adolescents. These findings will help us to understand the role of treatment stigma in CBT interventions for Autistic adolescents and their guardians.Trial registration: University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN 000029851). Registered January 6, 2018.