Adapting Let’s Introduce Anxiety Management (LIAM) for Autistic or Neurodivergent Children and Young People

Adapting Let’s Introduce Anxiety Management (LIAM) for Autistic or Neurodivergent Children and Young People

• Neurodiversity: refers to the wide range of variability in brain function** in the human population
• Neurodivergence: describes individuals for whom selective neurocognitive function falls out with the typical, or prevalent, range. This includes Autistic people and people who have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Neurotypical: describes individuals where selective neurocognitive function falls within the prevalent range

**Brain functions include – language, attention, emotions, impulses, social behaviour, processing sensory information.

Research shows that Autistic / Neurodivergent children and young people (CYP) often have higher baseline levels of anxiety than typically developing CYP. Whilst 10-15% of the general population will experience an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives, 40% of autistic CYP will have a diagnosable anxiety disorder and up to 70% will have significant symptoms of anxiety (Van Steesnel, et al., 2011). Additionally, 25% of ADHD CYP will exhibit an anxiety disorder (Schatz and Rostain, 2006), although this can be as high as 50%.

Let’s Introduce Anxiety Management (LIAM) is a staged training offer intended to develop skills in the delivery of a Cognitive Behavioural therapy (CBT)-informed approach for the treatment of mild-moderate anxiety symptoms in children and young people (CYP).

Anxiety may present differently in Neurodivergent populations, for example, social anxiety might be the result of finding social situations hard to navigate, (rather than fear of being embarrassed). Anxiety might be related to predictability, change or fear of being prevented from engaging in repetitive behaviours. It also may be the first response to neutral or even positive news or events e.g., Christmas or a birthday.

LIAM has been shown to lower anxiety in a sample of Autistic/Neurodivergent children and young people. NES has expanded the training to include three additional sessions specifically for Autistic/ND CYP to increase the reach and engagement of this population.

These new sessions focus on helping children and young people to understand themselves, why they might be more likely to experience anxiety, and recognise their needs and strengths:

• NES Psychology has worked with our Design team to develop child-friendly workbooks, session plans and parent information sheets for the three new sessions.
• pilot work is under way in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, NHS Lanarkshire and NHS Lothian to train experienced LIAM delivery staff from across the wider children’s workforce to deliver the new LIAM intervention. 80 staff have been trained so far, including teachers, health visitors, school nurses and educational psychologists.
• we will measure impact at all four levels of the Kirkpatrick Model

Following the results of the pilot, we plan to implement this intervention across 13 Health Board areas via Training in Psychological Skills – early intervention for children (TIPS-EIC) NES-funded psychology staff.

For more information contact

Dr Suzy O’Connor – Clinical Psychologist and Programme Lead
Dr Kimberley Ross – Clinical Psychologist and Principal Educator

Training in psychological skills – early intervention for children (TIPS-EIC) / Autism / Neurodivergence (ND) Psychology Workstreams.

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