On Demand Grand Rounds: The Interrelation of Anxiety and Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Critical Component of Person-Centered Care

This presentation was originally reviewed on October 31, 2023, and broadcast live online on November 1, 2023, from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM ET. 

The views and opinions expressed by this presenter in this lecture are their own, and do not represent the views of Sheppard Pratt.

Anxiety is a well-recognized co-occurring condition or feature of autism. However, how anxiety impacts autistic individuals is less recognized especially when considering variations at different developmental stages.  This presentation will review key differences in how autistic individuals may experience anxiety and how this can manifest in communication, behavior, and functioning.  Developmental considerations for the experience and expression of anxiety will be reviewed.  The presentation will conclude with reviewing how anxiety needs to be considered integrally for person-centered care.

Target Audience

This activity is intended for physicians, nurses, psychologists, social workers, counselors and other mental health professionals. 

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this activity, attendees will be able to:

  1. List key differences in how autistic individuals frequently experience anxiety and how this can impact communication, behavior, and functioning.
  2. Discuss how anxiety can express differently at various developmental stages for autistic individuals.
  3. Integrate anxiety considerations into person-centered care planning with autistic individuals.
Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.00 ACEP NBCC clock hours
  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
  • 1.00 Category II credits for Social Workers
  • 1.00 Psychologists
  • 1.00 MNA Contact Hours for Nurses
  • 1.00 Participation
Course opens: 
12/05/2023
Course expires: 
12/02/2025

Sheppard Pratt’s Professional Education Program is pleased to provide Wednesdays at Sheppard Pratt free of charge as a public service to the mental health community.  Your tax-deductible donations will help maintain the outstanding quality of this service. 

Sheppard Pratt is dedicated to improving quality of life through mental health, special education, and addiction services for children, adolescents, adults and older adults.  Our patient-centered treatment approach, combined with our legacy of clinical excellence, sets us apart from other health systems on both a local and national level.  We have been ranked among the nation’s top psychiatric hospitals for 24 consecutive years by U. S. News & World Report.  Founded in 1853 by philanthropist Moses Sheppard, Sheppard Pratt Health System still abides by its Quaker traditions and values.

Sheppard Pratt regularly hosts renowned speakers from across the country at our headquarters in Towson. We provide educational opportunities on subjects including psychiatric disorders, issues of behavioral health, systems-based change, mental and somatic co-morbidities, psychiatric effects on health and health outcomes, advances in neurobiology, and clinical developments in concepts underlying drug treatment of psychiatric disorders. We are accredited by the Accreditation Council of Continuing Medical Education, the Maryland Nurses’ Association, the Maryland Board of Psychology, the Maryland Board of Social Work, and the National Board of Certified Counselors.

Please send your contributions to:

Sheppard Pratt Professional Education Program
Grand Rounds Fund
6501 North Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21204

Professional Education Program: 410.938.4593
Conference Center at Sheppard Pratt: 410.938.3900

There is no commercial support for this activity.

About the speaker

Dr. Michael J. Murray is a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist with extensive experience in autism spectrum disorder and developmental disabilities across the lifespan. He is the medical director for autism and developmental disabilities at Sheppard Pratt. Dr. Murray obtained his undergraduate degree from St. Joseph’s University and his medical degree from Penn State College of Medicine. He completed his psychiatry residency and child psychiatry fellowship at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and College of Medicine. 

He comes to Sheppard Pratt from Penn State College of Medicine where he was an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral health and the founding director of the Division of Autism Services, where he oversaw comprehensive clinical, research, training/education, and community outreach initiatives supporting the autism community. Dr. Murray was also medical director of the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Clinic of Penn State Health/Milton S. Hershey Medical Center; director of Autism Services, Education, Resources, and Training Collaborative (ASERT); and director of the Penn State Autism and Developmental Disabilities Collaborative.  Dr. Murray’s clinical and research interests include co-occurring mental health conditions in adolescents and adults with autism and interventions aimed at improving social well-being for adults and adolescents with ASD. 

Dr. Murray is actively involved in community service, having served as a board member for the Central Pennsylvania Autism Education and Resource Center and Vista Autism Services. He is dedicated to improving the lives of individuals with autism and developmental disabilities and has been involved in various state and community initiatives.

Dr. Murray is an active member of several professional societies, including the International Society for Autism Research, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the National Association for the Dually Diagnosed, and the Association for Positive Behavior Support. He has presented at conferences and educational meetings internationally on numerous topics but is most widely known for his work on person-centered care for neurodivergent individuals.

Disclosure Statements

Sheppard Pratt holds the standard that its continuing medical education programs should be free of commercial bias and conflict of interest. In accord with Sheppard Pratt's Disclosure Policy, as well as standards of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) and the American Medical Association (AMA), all planners, reviewers, speakers and persons in control of content have been asked to disclose any relationship he /she has with any entity producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing health care goods or services consumed by, or used on, patients, during the past 24 months. All planners, reviewers and speakers have also been asked to disclose any payments accepted for this lecture from any entity besides Sheppard Pratt, and if there will be discussion of any products, services, or off-label uses of product(s) during this presentation.

Michael J. Murray, MDreports that he no relationships with any entity producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing health care goods or services consumed by, or used on, patients, during the past 24 months. He will not discuss any products, services, or off-label uses in this presentation. All conflicts have been mitigated through review. 

Event Planners/Reviewers Disclosures: The following event planners and/or reviewers are reported as having no financial interest, arrangement or affiliation with any entity producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing health care goods or services consumed by, or used on, patients, during the past 24 months: Todd Peters, MD, Deepak Prabhakar, MD, Elizabeth Ryznar, MD, MSc, Louis Marino, MD, Ehsan Syed, MD, Devi Bhuyan, PsyD, Faith Dickerson, PhD, Carrie Etheridge, LCSW-C, Tom Flis, LCPC, Stacey Garnett, RN, MSN, Stephanie M. Robinson, MSN, RN, PMH-BC, NPD-BC, NE-BC , Heather Billings, RN, Lisa Illum, MLIS, MEd, and Jennifer Tornabene.

Physician Statement: Sheppard Pratt is accredited by The Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.  Sheppard Pratt takes responsibility for the content, quality, and scientific integrity of this CME activity.  Sheppard Pratt designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™.  Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Nurse Statement: Sheppard Pratt is approved as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the Maryland Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Sheppard Pratt takes responsibility for the content, quality, and scientific integrity of this CME activity. This activity provides 1.0 contact hour(s) for nurses.

Psychologist Statement: Sheppard Pratt is authorized by the State Board of Examiners of Psychologists as a sponsor of continuing education. Sheppard Pratt takes responsibility for the content, quality, and scientific integrity of this CE activity.  Sheppard Pratt designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.0 contact hour(s) for Psychologists.

Social Worker Statement: Sheppard Pratt is authorized by the Board of Social Work Examiners of Maryland to offer continuing education for Social Workers.  Sheppard Pratt takes responsibility for the content, quality, and scientific integrity of this CE activity. This activity is approved for 1.0 contact hour(s) in Category II credits for Social Workers.

Counselor Statement:  Sheppard Pratt has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 5098.  Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified.  Sheppard Pratt is solely responsible for all aspects of the program.  This activity is available for 1.0 NBCC clock hour(s).

Available Credit

  • 1.00 ACEP NBCC clock hours
  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
  • 1.00 Category II credits for Social Workers
  • 1.00 Psychologists
  • 1.00 MNA Contact Hours for Nurses
  • 1.00 Participation
Please login or register to take this course.

ON DEMAND WEBINAR: FOR BEST RESULTS WATCH USING GOOGLE CHROME

Grand Rounds: The Interrelation of Anxiety and Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Critical Component of Person-Centered Care

Michael J. Murray, MD

Medical Director, Autism and Developmental Disabilities

Sheppard Pratt

Baltimore, MD

Originally reviewed on October 31, 2023.
Originally broadcast live November 1, 2023, from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM ET
Enduring Activity Credit Expiration Date: December 2, 2025

Activity Time: One-hour webinar lecture with a 15-minute evaluation process. Total Time: 1:15.

TO EARN CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT FOR YOUR ATTENDANCE
On the OVERVIEW or REGISTER/TAKE COURSE tab, select the GREEN RECTANGLE, TAKE COURSE to begin.
Complete the Pretest and select NEXT in the bottom right corner of the screen. Use the NEXT button for best results.
The PowerPoint handout will be available for download.
After downloading the handout, select NEXT to begin and watch the video. 
You may need to select play for the video to begin.
After the video follow the prompts to complete the posttest, evaluation, and attestation of credit. 
Once you have completed all the components of the Course Progress bar, the certificate will be immediately downloadable.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT
There is no commercial support for this activity.

Questions? Look at our FAQ’s at https://cme.sheppardpratt.org/content/faq or Email cme@sheppardpratt.org

Required Hardware/software

Optimal System Configuration

Flash Player: Adobe Flash Player 10.1+
Browser: Firefox 3+, Internet Explorer 8.0+, Safari 4.0+, or Google Chrome 7.0+
Operating System: Windows XP+ or Mac OS X 10.4+
Internet Connection: 1 Mbps or higher

Minimum Requirements

Windows PC: 500-MHz Pentium II; Windows XP or higher; 128 MB RAM; Video Card at least 64MB of video memory; Sound Card at least 16-bit; Macromedia Flash Player 10 or higher, audio playback with speakers for programs with video content; Firefox 1.1+, Internet Explorer 7.0+, Safari 1.0+, Google Chrome, or Opera
Macintosh: Mac OS X 10.3 or higher with latest updates installed; 1.83MHz Intel Core Duo or faster; RAM: 128MB or more; Video Card: at least 64MB of video memory; Sound Card: at least 16-bit

Hardware/Software Specifications

This internet-based CME activity is best experienced using Internet Explorer 8+, Mozilla Firefox 3+, Safari 4+. This Web site requires that JavaScript and session cookies be enabled. Certain activities may require additional software to view multimedia, presentation, or printable versions of the content. These activities will be marked as such and will provide links to the required software. That software may be: Adobe Flash, Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Windows Media Player.