Adolescents Needed For Asperger Study (4/23/2007)

Adolescents with Asperger syndrome are sought for a University of Queensland psychology project.

PhD student Lake-Hui Quek said she hoped to determine why there was a prevalence of mood and anxiety disorders among young people with Asperger Syndrome, a developmental disorder that may affect as many as one in 280 Australians.

"Adolescents with Asperger syndrome experience higher levels of mood disturbances than their peers," Ms Quek said.

"Understanding the factors that cause this will allow clinicians to develop interventions that are specifically tailored to the Asperger population."

Trials of cognitive-behaviour therapy modified to suit adolescents with Asperger syndrome are being conducted as part of Ms Quek's research.

Participation in the study involves an interview, scheduled at a time convenient for parents, and for suitable applicants, a series of two-hour intervention sessions.

Therapists conducting the study are Masters and PhD clinical interns who have been trained and supervised by Dr Kate Sofronoff, Director of UQ's clinical psychology program.

For more information about the research, please visit the study's website or call (07) 3346 7278.

Note: This story has been adapted from a news release issued by the University of Queensland

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