Cognitive-Behavior Therapy for Social Anxiety Does Not Increase Reports of Camouflaging Behavior in Autistic Adults: Results From an Exploratory Study.

There was no control group, so it is impossible to know if changes were due to the therapy or other factors like natural fluctuation or regression to the mean. The study relied solely on self-reported measures, which may not capture the full complexity or unconscious nature of camouflaging. Participants were excluded if they had an intellectual disability (FSIQ < 70) or severe depression, limiting how well these findings apply to autistic adults with co-occurring conditions or lower cognitive abilities. The analysis was exploratory, and the primary outcome (camouflaging change) was null, meaning the significant correlations with anxiety reduction are secondary findings. Five participants dropped out early, and the sample was recruited from clinical referrals and community sources, potentially biasing the results toward individuals already motivated for CBT.

The authors declared no conflicts of interest. Funding was provided by University of Sydney scholarships.

Do not conclude that this CBT program reduces camouflaging in all autistic adults. The primary outcome for camouflaging change was not statistically significant, and the reduction was only observed in those who had the greatest improvement in social anxiety.