UQ study targets anxiety in children with Asperger’s

The Behaviour Research and Therapy Centre at the University of Queensland, St Lucia will conduct group interventions for anxiety in children with Asperger’s syndrome beginning in March 2003.

Asperger’s syndrome is a developmental disorder in the autism spectrum of disorders.

"Children with Asperger’s syndrome are usually diagnosed in the early years of primary school," said Dr Kate Sofronoff of UQ’s School of Pyschology.

"These children experience significant difficulties in social interaction with peers, often exhibit challenging behaviours, and experience a high level of anxiety."

Dr Sofronoff said children should be in upper primary school — grades 5, 6 and 7 — or older. The intervention consists of six 2-hour sessions that take place on Saturday mornings plus one intake interview with parents to be scheduled at a convenient time before the intervention. A parent is also required to attend the parent training sessions held at the same time as the child sessions.

The total cost of the Intervention is $220. The therapists conducting the sessions are Masters and PhD postgraduate clinical students currently in the second year of their training. All interns have been trained to work with children with Asperger’s syndrome by Dr Tony Attwood, a Brisbane-based world authority on the condition, and Dr Sofronoff. They will be supervised by Dr Sofronoff.

If you are interested in participating in the intervention at this time please call Dr Sofronoff on 3365 64 11 or email kate@psy.uq.edu.au.