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Clinical trial Recruiting at 2 sites Interventional Ages 8 to 14

Brain activity changes after cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety in autistic youth from high-need communities

Official title: Electrophysiological Correlates of Anxiety-related Improvements Following Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Autistic Youth in High-Need Communities

Run by Montclair State University · NCT06904508 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This project will test whether a group CBT program called Facing Your Fears reduces anxiety and changes brain activity in autistic kids aged 8–14 from underserved communities.

Quick facts

Study typeInterventional
Ages8 Years to 14 Years
SexAll
Enrollment60 (estimated)
SponsorMontclair State University
Academic / other
Locations2 sites (Montclair, New Jersey and 1 other locations)
StatusRecruiting
StartedApril 30, 2025
Main results expectedSeptember 2027
Study endsSeptember 2027
Registry record updatedJune 25, 2025
Trial IDNCT06904508 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Autistic youth aged 8–14 who are verbally fluent in English, have an estimated verbal IQ of 70 or above, clinically significant anxiety, and a legal guardian able to provide consent and participate in the intervention are ideal candidates.

Probably not a fit

Children outside the 8–14 age range, those who are nonverbal or have an estimated verbal IQ below 70, or those without clinically significant anxiety are unlikely to benefit from this protocol.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This randomized study compares immediate participation in the Facing Your Fears (FYF) group CBT program to a waitlist control receiving usual care, with the option to receive FYF after the wait period. Participants complete EEG recordings and standardized anxiety measures reported by both youth and parents before and after the intervention period. The team will examine whether changes in EEG patterns correspond to symptom improvement and relate to traits like tolerance for uncertainty and emotion regulation. Caregivers join the intervention alongside their child, and visits occur at Montclair State University and Drexel University.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reduce anxiety symptoms for participating autistic youth and identify brain-based markers that help tailor treatment in underserved communities.

How similar studies have gone: Behavioral CBT programs including Facing Your Fears have shown symptom improvements for anxiety in autistic youth, but using EEG to track neural change in this underserved population is less established.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria 
Inclusion Criteria:

* Between the ages of 8 and 14
* Have significant deficits in reciprocal social behavior as defined by a score of 11 or above on the parent-report SCQ questionnaire
* Are verbally fluent in English, enabling them to participate in the appropriate modules (3 or 4) of the researcher-administered ADOS-2
* Have an estimated verbal IQ of 70 or above as determined by the researcher-administered KBIT-2
* Have clinically significant anxiety symptoms as defined by significant elevations on either the parent-report SCARED questionnaire or the parent-report PRAS-ASD questionnaire
* Have a legal guardian who can provide consent for their child's participation as well as their own participation in the intervention alongside their child. If the legal guardian is unable to participate in the intervention themselves but would like for their child to receive the intervention with another caregiver who lives with the child, the legal guardian will still be the one to sign the consent form, but will provide permission for another caregiver (logged on the consent form) to participate in the intervention alongside the child

Exclusion Criteria:

* Fail to meet any of the above inclusion criteria
* If it is determined by the research team via parent report or direct observation that the child has a severe medical or psychiatric impairment (e.g., psychosis, severe aggressive behavior, or other severe clinical symptoms) that require more intensive treatment such as day treatment or hospitalization

Where it's running

  • Montclair State University
    Montclair, New Jersey, United States     Recruiting
  • Drexel University
    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States     Recruiting

Study contacts

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
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Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.