Exposure-Focused Family-Based CBT for Youth With ASD and Comorbid Anxiety

Inclusion Criteria: * Outpatient children with an autism spectrum disorder between the ages 6-12 years. * Meets criteria for a diagnosis of one of the following anxiety disorders: generalized anxiety disorder, separation anxiety disorder, social phobia, specific phobia, panic disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder. * Minimum score of 12 on the Pediatric Anxiety Rating Scale - Severity Scale. * Child has a Full Scale and Verbal Comprehension IQ \> 80. Exclusion Criteria: * Current clinically significant suicidality or engagement in suicidal behaviors within the last 6 months. * Presence of any clinical features requiring a higher level of care (inpatient or partial hospital treatment). * Any lifetime diagnosis (meeting DSM-IV criteria) of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder; or Substance abuse in the past 6 months. * Initiation of an antidepressant medication within 10 weeks before study enrollment or an antipsychotic medication 6 weeks before study enrollment or the child has changed the dose of an established medication within 6 weeks before study enrollment (4 weeks for antipsychotic) or during psychotherapy (unless the dose is lowered because of side effects). If the child is on a medication, she or he can remain on it at its current dose. While in their treatment arm, children randomized to the EF-CBT condition will not be able to continue or initiate psychosocial interventions targeting anxiety(psychotherapy, certain types of social skills t…