Disorders - Anxiety Disorders
Pfeffer, C. R., Jiang, H., Kakuma, T., Hwang, J., Metsch, M.
Objective\rThis study evaluated efficacy of a manual-based bereavement group intervention for children who suffered
suicide of a parent or sibling.\r\rMethod\rSeventy-five families (102 children) were screened from medical examiners' lists of suicide victims.
Fifty-two families (75 children) were eligible and assigned in alternating order to receive (27 families, 39 children) or not to receive (25
families, 36 children) the intervention. Intervention efficacy was evaluated as change in children's symptoms of anxiety, depression, posttraumatic
stress, social adjustment, and parents' depressive symptoms from initial to outcome assessments.\r\rResults\rChanges in anxiety and depressive
symptoms were significantly greater among children who received the intervention than in those who did not. A greater dropout of children assigned
not to receive (75%) than to receive (18%) intervention led to an imbalance in retention of intervention and nonintervention participants.\r
\rConclusions\rA bereavement group intervention focusing on reactions to death and suicide and strengthening coping skills can lessen distress of
children bereaved after parental or sibling suicide. Such intervention may prevent future morbidities.
Journal of the American Academy
of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 41(5) : 505-513
- Year: 2002
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Depressive Disorders
- Type: Controlled clinical trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any), Other Psychological Interventions
Dewis, L. M., Kirkby, K. C., Martin,
F., Daniels, B. A., Gilroy, L. J., Menzies, R. G.
The efficacy
of computer-aided vicarious exposure (CAVE) for the treatment of spider phobia in children was evaluated in a single blind, randomised, controlled
trial. Twenty-eight participants, aged 10-17 years, received three 45-min sessions of either Live graded exposure (LGE), CAVE or were assigned to a
Waitlist. Phobic symptomatology was measured at pre- and post-treatment, and at one month follow-up on a range of behavioural and subjective
assessments. The results showed the superiority of the LGE treatment over the CAVE and Waitlist conditions. Effect sizes support CAVE treatment as
being superior to the Waitlist and resulting in reductions of phobic symptomatology.
Journal of Behavior Therapy & Experimental Psychiatry, 32(1) : 17-
27
- Year: 2001
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Specific
Phobia
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Service Delivery & Improvement, Psychological Interventions
(any), Exposure therapy, Exposure
and response prevention, Technology, comparing delivery mode (e.g. online vs. face-to-face)
Joiner-Jr, Thomas E., Voelz, Zachary R., Rudd, M.
Practicing psychologists face
many complexities and challenges in caring for suicidal patients who have comorbid mood and anxiety disorders. Not only must suicidal crises be
addressed, but co-occurring depressive and anxiety symptoms compete for attention as well and are associated with relatively poor clinical prognosis
in usual treatments. The current study compared problem-solving treatment to treatment as usual among depression-anxiety comorbid versus noncomorbid
clinically suicidal young adults. Suicidal patients with mood and anxiety disorders were randomized to the 2 treatments and followed over time.
Comorbid suicidal patients, in particular, experienced notable symptom improvements from the problem-solving treatment. Features of the problem-
solving treatment are described for use in clinical practice. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2008 APA, all rights reserved).
Professional Psychology: Research & Practice, 32(3) : 278-
282
- Year: 2001
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Depressive Disorders, Suicide or self-harm behaviours (excluding non-suicidal self-harm), Suicide or self-harm with comorbid mental disorder
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any), Problem solving therapy (PST)
The Research Unit on Pediatric Psychopharmacology Anxiety Study
Group,
Drugs that selectively inhibit serotonin reuptake are effective treatments for adults with mood and anxiety
disorders, but limited data are available on the safety and efficacy of serotonin-reuptake inhibitors in children with anxiety disorders. 128
children (aged 6-17 yrs) who met the criteria for social phobia, separation anxiety disorder, or generalized anxiety disorder, and who had received
psychological treatment for 3 wks without improvement were studied. The children were randomly assigned to receive fluvoxamine or placebo for 8 wks
and were evaluated with rating scales designed to assess the degree of anxiety and impairment. Children in the fluvoxamine group had a mean decrease
of 9.7 points in symptoms of anxiety on the Pediatric Anxiety Rating Scale, as compared with a decrease of 3.1 points among children in the placebo
group. On the Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement scale, 48 of 63 children in the fluvoxamine group had a response to the treatment, as compared
with 19 of 65 children in the placebo group. It is concluded that fluvoxamine is an effective treatment for children and adolescents with social
phobia, separation anxiety disorder, or generalized anxiety disorder. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2008 APA, all rights reserved).
New England Journal of Medicine, 344(17) : 1279-
1285
- Year: 2001
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Social phobia (social anxiety disorder)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Biological Interventions
(any), Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
Silverman, W. K., Kurtines, W. M., Ginsburg, G. S., Weems, C. F., Lumpkin, P. W., Carmichael, D.
H.
A randomized clinical trial evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of group cognitive-behavioral therapy (GCBT) versus a
wait-list control (WLC) condition to treat anxiety disorders in children. Results indicated that GCBT, with concurrent parent sessions, was highly
efficacious in producing and maintaining treatment gains. Children in GCBT showed substantial improvement on all the main outcome measures, and these
gains were maintained at 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups. Children in the WLC condition did not show improvements from the pre- to the postwait
assessment point. These findings are discussed in terms of the need to continue to advance the development of practical, as well as conceptual,
knowledge of efficacious treatment for anxiety disorders in children.
Journal of Consulting & Clinical Psychology, 67(6) : 995-
1003
- Year: 1999
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any), Cognitive & behavioural therapies (CBT)
Mendlowitz, S. L., Manassis, K., Bradley, S., Scapillato, D., Miezitis, S., Shaw, B. F.
Objectives: This study examined (1) the effect of a cognitive-behavioral group intervention on anxiety, depression, and coping
strategies in school- age children (aged 7-12 years) with Axis I anxiety disorders; and (2) the effect of parental involvement on treatment outcomes.
Method: Parents and children (N = 62) were randomly assigned to one of three 12-week treatment conditions: parent and child intervention, child-only
intervention, and parent-only intervention. Child anxiety, depression, and coping strategies were assessed before and after treatment. Results: All
treatment groups reported fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression posttreatment and changes in their use of coping strategies. Children in the
parent and child intervention used more active coping strategies posttreatment compared with children in the other 2 treatment conditions. Parents in
this treatment condition reported a significantly greater improvement in their children's emotional well-being than parents in the other treatment
conditions. Conclusions: Cognitive-behavioral group interventions reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression in school-age children with anxiety
disorders. Concurrent parental involvement enhanced the effect on coping strategies. Further investigation is needed to corroborate the effectiveness
of such short-term interventions and the maintenance of treatment effects.
Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry., 38(10) : 1223-
1229
- Year: 1999
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any), Cognitive & behavioural therapies (CBT)
Dadds, M. R., Holland, D. E., Laurens, K. R., Mullins,
M., Barrett, P. M., Spence, S. H.
The Queensland Early Intervention and Prevention of Anxiety Project evaluated a child- and family-focused group
intervention for preventing anxiety problems in children. This article reports on 12- and 24-month follow-up data to previously reported outcomes at
posttreatment and at 6- month follow-up. A total of 1,786 7- to 14-year-olds were screened for anxiety problems using teacher nominations and
children's self-report. After diagnostic interviews, 128 children were selected and assigned to either a 10-week school-based child- and parent-
focused psychosocial intervention or a monitoring group. Both groups showed improvements immediately at postintervention and at 6-month follow-up;
the improvement was maintained in the intervention group only, reducing the rate of existing anxiety disorder and preventing the onset of new anxiety
disorders. At 12 months, the groups converged, but the superiority of the intervention group was evident again at 2-year follow-up. Severity of
pretreatment diagnoses, gender, and parental anxiety predicted poor initial response to intervention, whereas pretreatment severity was the only
predictor of chronicity at 24 months. Overall, follow- up results show that a brief school-based intervention for children can produce durable
reductions in anxiety problems.
Journal of Consulting & Clinical Psychology, 67(1) : 145-
150
- Year: 1999
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any)
- Type: Controlled clinical trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any), Other Psychological Interventions
Cobham, V. E., Spence, S. H., Dadds, M. R.
Sixty-seven children aged 7 to 14 who met diagnostic criteria for an anxiety disorder were assigned to conditions according to parental
anxiety level. Within these conditions, children were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatments: child-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or
child- focused CBT plus parental anxiety management (CBT + PAM). At posttreatment, results indicated that within the child-anxiety-only condition,
82% of the children in the CBT condition no longer met criteria for an anxiety disorder compared with 80% in the CBT + PAM condition. Within the
child + parental anxiety condition, 39% in the CBT condition no longer met criteria compared with 77% in the CBT + PAM condition. At follow-up, these
differences were maintained, with some weakening over time. Results were not consistent across outcome measures. The interpretation and potential
clinical implications of these findings are discussed.
Journal of
Consulting & Clinical Psychology, 66(6) : 893-905
- Year: 1998
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any), Cognitive & behavioural therapies (CBT), Other Psychological Interventions
Dadds, M. R., Spence,
S. H., Holland, D. E., Barrett, P. M., Laurens, K. R.
The Queensland Early Intervention and Prevention of Anxiety Project
evaluated the effectiveness of a cognitive-behavioral and family-based group intervention for preventing the onset and development of anxiety
problems in children. A total of 1,786 7- to 14-year-olds were screened for anxiety problems using teacher nominations and children's self-report.
After recruitment and diagnostic interviews, 128 children were selected and assigned to a 10-week school-based child- and parent-focused psychosocial
intervention or to a monitoring group. Both groups showed improvements immediately postintervention. At 6 months follow-up, the improvement
maintained in the intervention group only, reducing the rate of existing anxiety disorder and preventing the onset of new anxiety disorders. Overall,
the results showed that anxiety problems and disorders identified using child and teacher reports can be successfully targeted through an early
intervention school-based program.
Journal
of Consulting & Clinical Psychology, 65(4) : 627-635
- Year: 1997
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any)
- Type: Controlled clinical trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any), Cognitive & behavioural therapies (CBT), Other Psychological Interventions
Kendall, P. C., Flannery-Schroeder, E., Panichelli-Mindel, S. M., Southam-Gerow, M., Henin, A., Warman, M.
Ninety-four children (aged 9-13 years) with anxiety disorders were randomly assigned to
cognitive behavioral treatment or waiting-list control. Outcomes were evaluated using diagnostic status, child self-reports, parent and teacher
reports, cognitive assessment and behavioral observation; maintenance was examined using 1-year follow-up data. Analyses of dependent measures
indicated significant improvements over time, with the majority indicating greater gains for those receiving treatment. Treatment gains returned
cases to within nondeviant limits (i.e., normative comparisons) and were maintained at 1-year follow-up. Client age and comorbid status did not
moderate outcomes. A preliminary examination of treatment segments suggested that the enactive exposure (when it follows cognitive educational
training) was an active force in beneficial change. Discussion includes suggestions for future research.
Journal of Consulting &
Clinical Psychology, 65(3) : 366-380
- Year: 1997
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any), Cognitive & behavioural therapies (CBT)
Wenck, L. S., Leu, P. W., D'Amato, R. C.
This study explored the reduction of anxiety with children using a combination of
electromyograph and thermal biofeedback techniques. One hundred and fifty children (7th and 8th graders) were identified by teachers as anxious and
randomly assigned to biofeedback intervention and no- intervention groups. Biofeedback intervention subjects received 6 sessions of thermal training
and 6 sessions of electromyographic training over a 6 week period. A post-test anxiety scale demonstrated a significant reduction in both state and
trait anxiety. This study suggested biofeedback as a viable intervention which might be coordinated and provided by psychologists to reduce anxiety
in children.
Journal of Clinical Psychology., 52(4) : 469-473
- Year: 1996
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any), Biofeedback, neurofeedback, audio/video feedback
Kendall, P. C.
In this study a psychosocial
treatment for 47 Ss (aged 9-13 years) with anxiety disorders was investigated. A 16-session cognitive-behavioral treatment was compared with a wait-
list condition. Outcome was evaluated using child self-report, parent report, teacher report, cognitive assessment, and behavioral observations.
Pretreatment-posttreatment changes and maintenance of gains at 1-year follow-up were examined. Results revealed that many treated Ss were found to be
without a diagnosis at posttest and at follow-up and to be within normal limits on many measures. The child's perception of the therapeutic
relationship and the therapist's perception of parental involvement were measured but were not related to outcome. Discussion focuses on
characteristics of effective child therapy and the need for further research on treatment components and alternative treatment methods.
Journal of
Consulting & Clinical Psychology., 62(1) : 100-110
- Year: 1994
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any), Cognitive & behavioural therapies (CBT)