1. Decision-making and anxiety The Fun and Games Study Jacqui Rodgers, Laura Gray & Sarah Wigham

2. What are we interested in? Understanding why children & young people with an ASD are vulnerable to anxiety Discovering whether thinking styles associated with ASD might contribute to the development and continuation of anxiety This may help us to develop more effective ways of providing support to young people with ASD and their families if anxiety is a problem

3. Our Methods: The fun and Games project The Iowa Gambling Task The Rule violation task Measuring responses to the tasks Jacqui.Rodgers@ncl.ac.uk

4. Who has taken part? In the UK – 25 children with ASD aged between 8-16 & their parents – 25 children without ASD aged between 8-16 & their parents In the USA – 35 children with ASD aged between 10-16 & their parents – 34 children without ASD aged between 10-16 & their parents

5. Our Findings so far: Making decisions Comparing ‘rational’ and ‘emotional’ decisions

6. Implications and next steps Young people with ASD may find it more difficult to ‘listen’ to emotional cues to guide their decisions/behaviour This may have a big impact in social & emotional situations Next steps: Finish our analysis! Consider the clinical/educational implications