Table 1 A summary of study characteristics

Chalfant et al., 2007 [30]

Children with HFAD or Asperger disorder and a primary anxiety disorder.

47 (35 male, 12 female)

8-13 years (mean 10.8, SD 1.35)

CBT (n = 28)

Group sessions (6-8 children/group).

-

WL/TAU (n = 19)

SCAS-P

4.27

SCAS-C

2.64

McConachie et al., 2013 [37]

Children with ASD and at least one anxiety disorder.

32 (28 male, 4 female)

9-13 years and 11 months

CBT (n = 17)

Group sessions (no./group not reported).

Separate parallel groups for parents.

WL/TAU (n = 15)

ADIS-C

0.43

SCAS-P

0.20

SCAS-C

0.04

McNally Keehn et al., 2013 [38]

Children with an ASD and at least one primary anxiety disorder of SAD, GAD or SoP.

22 (21 male, 1 female)

8-14 years (mean 11.26, SD 1.53)

CBT (n = 12)

Individual sessions.

-

WL/TAU (n = 10)

ADIS-P

1.35

SCAS-P

0.91

SCAS-C

0.47

Reaven et al., 2012 [39]

Children with ASD and clinically significant anxiety symptoms.

50 (48 male, 2 female)

7-14 years (mean 10.4 years, SD 1.7)

CBT (n = 24)

Children only group sessions (3-6 children/ group), parent and children sessions, parent-child dyad sessions.

Parent and children group sessions, parent only and child only group sessions, parent-child dyad sessions.

WL/TAU (n = 26)

ADIS-P

0.60

Schohl et al., 2013 [43]

Adolescents with ASD and social problems.

63 (47 male, 11 female, 5 not specified)

11-16 years (mean 13.65 years, SD 1.50)

Social skills intervention (n = 34)

Group sessions (≤10 adolescents per group).

Separate parallel groups for parents.

WL/TAU (n = 29)

SIAS

0.16

Sofronoff et al., 2005 [32]

Children with AS and anxiety symptoms.

71 (62 male, 9 female)

10-12 years

CBT Child only (n = 23). CBT Child + parent (n = 25)

Group sessions (3 children/ group, allocated by age and sex, with girls grouped together)

Separate parallel groups for parents (12-13 parents/group)

WL/TAU (n = 23)

SCAS-P

0.09

Storch et al., 2013 [29]

Children with ASD and a primary diagnosis of SAD, GAD or OCD.

45 (36 male, 9 female)

7-11 years

CBT (n = 24)

Individual sessions.

Separate parallel parent sessions +/- parental involvement in child-focused components.

WL/TAU (n = 21)

PARS

1.38

MASC

0.48

RCMAS

0.26

Sung et al., 2011 [40]

Children and adolescents with ASD and anxiety-related issues.

70 (66 male, 4 female)

9-16 years

CBT (n = 36)

Group sessions (3-4 participants/ group).

-

Social recreational group program (n = 34).

SCAS-C

0.07

White et al., 2013 [41]

Children with ASD and at least one of SoP, GAD, SP, or SAD.

30 (23 male, 7 female)

12-17 years (mean 14.58, SD 15 years)

CBT (n = 15)

Individual and group sessions (no./group not reported).

Parent education and coaching.

WL/TAU (n = 15)

PARS

0.32

CASI Anx

0.37

Wood et al., 2009 [42]

Children with ASD and SAD, SoP or OCD.

40 (27 male, 13 female)

7–11 years, mean 9.20, SD 1.49

CBT (n =17)

Individual sessions.

60 min of each session spent with parents/family.

WL/TAU (n = 23)

ADIS-C/P

2.47

MASC-P

1.21

MASC-C

-0.03