Disorders - Anxiety Disorders
Namaky, N., Glenn, J. J., Eberle, J. W., Teachman, B.
A.
Prospection, the mental
simulation of future events, has been theoretically linked to physical and mental health. Prior studies have found that prospection is malleable;
however, no research to our knowledge has tested whether a scalable intervention explicitly targeting the simulation of positive future outcomes can
lead to more generalized positive prospection, and enhance positive outlook and reduce distress. The current study tested a novel, web-based
cognitive bias modification for interpretation (CBM-I) program designed to shift prospective bias towards more positive (as opposed to negative)
representations of future outcomes among 172 participants selected for having a relatively negative baseline expectancy bias. Results showed that
following CBM-I, participants in active training conditions exhibited more positive expectations about the future, and increased self-efficacy and
growth mindset. Also, optimism increased and depression and anxiety symptoms decreased following active training, but this also occurred for the
control condition. Analyses did not suggest that changes in positive expectations mediated changes in positive outlook outcomes. Results suggest that
an online prospection intervention can lead to more positive expectations about future events and improve positive outlook, though open questions
remain about what accounts for the training effects. Copyright © 2021
Behaviour Research and Therapy, 144 (no
pagination) :
- Year: 2021
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any), Attention/cognitive bias
modification
Myburgh, N., Muris, P., Loxton, H.
Background: Children within historically disadvantaged non-Western South African
communities are considered as particularly vulnerable to the development of anxiety problems. Although the need for accessible mental health
interventions is evident, this need has remained unmet in a country with extreme socio-economic disparities and a lack of mental health resources.
Cognitive behavioural therapy-based (CBT-based) interventions that employ brief and intensive delivery methods may overcome existing barriers to
access to mental health services faced by many South African children and may ameliorate the burden placed on under-resourced mental health care
services. Aim(s): To provide preliminary evidence on the effectiveness of a brief, intensive CBT-based anxiety prevention intervention conducted in a
South African context. Method(s): A mixed-methods approach, with quantitative and qualitative data, was used to evaluate the effects of the CBT-based
programme in a sample of 21 farmworkers' children aged 9-14 years living in disadvantaged semi-rural communities of the Western Cape. A quasi-
experimental design with an immediate intervention (experimental) group and a delayed intervention (control) group was applied in the quantitative
component of the study. The qualitative component was based on focus group data. Result(s): In general, positive effects were noted for the CBT-based
anxiety prevention programme in these vulnerable children. Quantitative data revealed a trend reflecting a reduction of self-reported anxiety levels.
Qualitative support for the acquisition and application of the CBT-based programme skills was also found. Conclusion(s): This pilot study indicates
that a brief, intensive CBT-based prevention programme holds promise for the effective reduction of anxiety in vulnerable South African children.
Copyright © 2021 The Child Care in Practice Group.
Child Care in
Practice., :
- Year: 2021
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any), Other Psychological Interventions
Morikawa, A., Takayama, M., Yoshizawa, E.
Context:
Thought Field Therapy is an evidence-based method validated by 17 clinical trials, including five Randomized Controlled Trials. This study
investigates whether a single Thought Field Therapy session can improve psychological issues such as stress, depression, and performance anxiety in
university students. Method(s): Fifty university students were randomly assigned to an intervention group or a waitlist control group. The
intervention group received a single counseling session of Thought Field Therapy and was assessed by Subjective Units of Distress and Heart Rate
Variability before and after the session. The waitlist group received Thought Field Therapy and was administered the Profile of Mood States Second
Edition. All participants completed the latter after a waiting period of 1-3 weeks. Result(s): The 39 students who received Thought Field Therapy
showed significantly higher Heart Rate Variability post-compared to pre-therapy (p < .001). The 33 students who were assessed for Subjective Units of
Distress also reported significant improvements (p < .001) by a 91% reduction in distress for an average duration of 36 minutes. The Profile of Mood
States Second Edition score did not show significant improvements in the intervention group (n = 24) as compared to the control group (n = 15).
Conclusion(s): A brief intervention of Thought Field Therapy can reduce stress and psychological distress among university students, and increase
their physiological resilience in a limited timeframe, after a single session of counseling. However, the single session did not suffice to
significantly improve their psychological conditions over the long term. Copyright © 2021 The Authors
, :
- Year: 2021
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Depressive Disorders
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Universal prevention
-
Treatment and intervention: Complementary & Alternative
Interventions (CAM), Psychological Interventions
(any), Other Psychological Interventions, Acupuncture, acupressure
Mooney-Doyle,
K., Burley, S., Ludemann, E., Rawlett, K.
BACKGROUND: When a child is given a diagnosis of cancer, the impact reverberates through the family unit. Siblings, in
particular, experience an accumulation of distress. Siblings of children with cancer can experience both short- and long-term difficulties in
psychosocial and physical functioning, and professional bodies have called for interventions targeted at their needs.\rOBJECTIVE: The aim of this
study was to describe outcomes, core components, and general characteristics of effective interventions intended to support sibling well-being and
psychosocial health in pediatric oncology.\rMETHODS: MEDLINE (Ovid), EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases were searched in
September 2019 and July 2020. Studies were included if they focused on interventions for siblings or family in pediatric cancer, had quantitative
data to describe the effect or impact of the intervention, and were published in English. Included studies underwent quality appraisal, data
extraction, and data synthesis.\rRESULTS: Twenty articles fit inclusion criteria. Most interventions focused on 6- to 18-year-old siblings within a
group setting. Most were theory based. Group format with multiple sessions was the most common approach. The most frequently assessed outcomes were
depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress symptoms, and health-related quality of life.\rCONCLUSIONS: Understanding outcomes, core components, and
characteristics of effective interventions is important to translate sibling-support interventions into standard practice. Such considerations are
important in delivering equitable family-centered care to siblings of children with cancer.\rIMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: As institutions create
mechanisms to support siblings, it may be important to target high-risk siblings initially, partner with community resources, attend to
underrecognized populations of siblings, and more fully incorporate family into sibling support.
Cancer Nursing, 44(6) : E609-
E635
- Year: 2021
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any)
- Type: Systematic reviews
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any)
Moltrecht, B., Deighton, J., Patalay, P., Edbrooke-Childs, J.
Background: Research
investigating the role of emotion regulation (ER) in the development and treatment of psychopathology has increased in recent years. Evidence
suggests that an increased focus on ER in treatment can improve existing interventions. Most ER research has neglected young people, therefore the
present meta-analysis summarizes the evidence for existing psychosocial intervention and their effectiveness to improve ER in youth. A systematic
review and meta-analysis was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. Twenty-one randomized-control-trials (RCTs) assessed changes in ER
following a psychological intervention in youth exhibiting various psychopathological symptoms. We found moderate effect sizes for current
interventions to decrease emotion dysregulation in youth (g = - 0.46) and small effect sizes to improve emotion regulation (g = 0.36). Significant
differences between studies including intervention components, ER measures and populations studied resulted in large heterogeneity. This is the first
meta-analysis that summarizes the effectiveness for existing interventions to improve ER in youth. The results suggest that interventions can enhance
ER in youth, and that these improvements correlate with improvements in psychopathology. More RCTs including larger sample sizes, different age
groups and psychopathologies are needed to increase our understanding of what works for who and when. Copyright © 2020, The Author(s).
European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 30(6) : 829
-848
- Year: 2021
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Depressive Disorders, Substance Use Disorders (any)
- Type: Systematic reviews
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any)
Moix, J., Cladellas, M., Gayete, S., Guarch, M., Heredia, I., Parpal, G., Toledo,
A., Torrent, D., Trujillo, A.
The aim of this study
was to determine the effectiveness of a brief and flexible mindfulness program in reducing anxiety and increasing mindful awareness in psychology
university students. The sample consisted of 72 psychology students who participated in four different studies. The first was a quasi-experimental
study and the remaining three studies were randomized controlled trials (RCT). A mindfulness program was applied to intervention groups. Anxiety
(STAI-T) and mindful awareness (FFMQ) were assessed before and immediately after the intervention. Anxiety was reduced and mindful awareness
increased in the intervention groups (p < .05). In the three RCTs the magnitude of change (between groups) showed a moderate increase in mindful
awareness in one study (d = 0.68) and a large increase in the remaining two (d = 1.32, 1.01), and as regards anxiety, large changes were observed in
the three studies (d = 0.80, 1.04, 0.81). As a conclusion, this mindfulness program proved to be effective in reducing anxiety and increasing mindful
awareness. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved) Abstract (Spanish) El objetivo de este estudio es determinar la eficacia de
un programa de mindfulness breve y flexible para reducir la ansiedad y aumentar la conciencia plena en los estudiantes universitarios de psicologia.
La muestra comprende 72 estudiantes de psicologia que participaron en cuatro estudios diferentes. El primero fue cuasi-experimental y los tres
restantes fueron ensayos controlados aleatorizados (en ingles, RCT). Se aplico un programa de mindfulness a los grupos de intervencion. La ansiedad
(STAI-T) y la conciencia plena (FFMQ) se evaluaron antes e inmediatamente despues de la intervencion. Se redujo la ansiedad y se incremento la
conciencia plena en los grupos de intervencion (p <. 05). En los tres RCT la magnitud del cambio (entre grupos) mostro un aumento moderado de la
conciencia plena en un estudio (d = 0.68) y un gran aumento de los dos restantes (d = 1.32, 1.01) y en lo que respecta a la ansiedad se observaron
grandes cambios en los tres estudios (d = 0.80, 1.04, 0.81). Como conclusion, este programa de mindfulness demostro su eficacia en la reduccion de la
ansiedad y el aumento de la conciencia plena. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)
Clinica y Salud, 32(1) : 23-
28
- Year: 2021
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Universal prevention
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any), Mindfulness based
therapy
McTavish, J.
R., Santesso, N., Amin, A., Reijnders, M., Ali, M. U., Fitzpatrick-Lewis, D., MacMillan, H. L.
Background: In this manuscript, we summarize the
findings of a systematic review that informed the development of the World Health Organization's recommendations related to psychosocial
interventions for child and adolescent sexual abuse. Method(s): Systematic searches across 14 databases were conducted to retrieve any published
randomized controlled trials of psychosocial interventions addressing mental health outcomes among children and adolescents exposed to sexual abuse
who have experienced symptoms. We assessed study risk of bias using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool and certainty of the evidence using GRADE (Grading
of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) criteria. Result(s): Twenty-four articles representing fifteen studies were included in
the systematic review. Only two studies were conducted in low- or middle-income countries. Few studies could be pooled together because of
differences in interventions and comparators. Due to the small numbers of participants and very serious concerns with risk of bias, we are very
uncertain about the benefits of interventions provided to children alone and without the involvement of their caregivers. However, cognitive behavior
therapy (CBT) with a trauma focus provided to children and involving their caregivers may reduce some mental health symptoms associated with sexual
abuse experiences. Discussion(s): The findings suggest that more and larger studies are needed to evaluate the effects of psychosocial interventions
for children and adolescents exposed to sexual abuse who preside in low- and middle-income countries. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42016039656
Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd
Child Abuse and Neglect, Part 1.
116 (no pagination) :
- Year: 2021
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Type: Systematic reviews
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any)
McKay, N., Przybysz, J., Cavanaugh, A., Horvatits, E., Giorgianni, N., Czajka, K.
In many individuals, stress appears to
stimulate an increase in energy intake as well as a shift in food choice toward unhealthy food items or \"comfort foods\". Eating during stress is
widely assumed to have anxiolytic properties, but there is little empirical support for this. The current two studies examined if either an unhealthy
food item or a healthy food item could reduce stress reactivity and extended previous findings by examining whether participant liking contributes to
any potential stress reduction. In the first experiment, participants rated baseline anxiety, were assigned to eat no food, carrots, or a candy bar,
rated their anxiety a second time, and reported their liking of the assigned condition. The second experiment followed a similar procedure, except
participants underwent a stressor before being asked to eat a food item. In addition, physiological measures of stress (salivary cortisol and alpha-
amylase, and cardiovascular measures) were recorded. In both experiments, there was no effect of food on any measure of emotional or physiological
stress. In contrast, participants who highly liked their condition exhibited a suppression of anxiety in both experiments and showed enhanced post-
stress recovery of alpha-amylase. The anxiolytic effects of liking were not dependent on whether participants engaged in the healthy, unhealthy, or
no food condition, which indicates that the self-perceived liking of a post-stress activity affects stress recovery more than the nutritional value.
This has potential implications in how the population thinks about which activities to engage in to stimulate stress recovery. Copyright © 2020
Elsevier Inc.
Physiology and Behavior, 229 (no
pagination) :
- Year: 2021
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Universal prevention
-
Treatment and intervention: Complementary & Alternative
Interventions (CAM), Other complementary & alternative
interventions
Mastromanno, B. K., Kehoe, C. E., Wood, C. E., Havighurst, S. S.
This pilot study provides a preliminary evaluation
of the newly adapted one-to-one version of Tuning in to Kids (TIK), using a randomised-controlled design. One hundred and seven parents of a child
aged between four and ten with parent-identified behaviour problems participated. Parent emotion socialisation, parental reflective functioning
(PRF), parent and teacher-reported externalising behaviour problems and parent-reported internalising (anxiety) problems were assessed at baseline
and six-month follow-up. Parents who completed the TIK one-to-one intervention reported improved emotion socialisation practices, relative to
waitlist-controls. Children of parents in the intervention group also experienced more clinically significant improvement to their externalising
behaviour problems, and decreased anxiety symptoms. There were no significant changes to teacher-reported behaviour problems, or to PRF, however,
there was a trend towards intervention parents experiencing improvements to one aspect of PRF-Pre Mentalising. TIK one-to-one shows promise as an
effective intervention approach for parents and their children with behaviour problems. Further corroboration of these effects is needed with a
larger sample. Abbreviations: Tuning in to Kids (TIK); Parental Reflective Functioning (PRF) Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR)
number: ACTRN12618000310268. Copyright © 2021 SEBDA.
Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties, 26(4) : 359-
374
- Year: 2021
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any), Skills training, Other Psychological Interventions
Mason, M. J., Coatsworth, J. D., Russell, M., Khatri, P., Bailey, S., Moore, M., Brown, A., Zaharakis, N., Trussell, M., Stephens, C. J., Wallis, D., Hale, C.
Background: Text-
delivered prevention programs provide unique opportunities to deliver substance use prevention interventions to at-risk populations. Method(s): A
pilot randomized controlled trial was conducted to test the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a 4-week, automated personalized
text-messaging prevention program, designed to reduce risk factors and increase protective factors associated with adolescent substance use and
misuse. Sixty-nine adolescents were recruited from a Federally Qualified Health Care clinic and randomized to a text-delivered intervention, or a
wait-list control condition. Simultaneously, fifty-two parents of adolescent participants were enrolled into a parenting skills text-delivered
intervention. Participants completed a baseline assessment and three follow-up surveys over three-months. Adolescent saliva specimens for drug
testing were collected. Result(s): All intervention-allocated adolescents implemented at least one of the text-based counseling recommendations and
79% indicated that they found the texts helpful. Significant intervention effects were found on risk and protective factors for substance misuse.
Adolescents in the intervention group reported reduced depression symptoms (d = -.63) and anxiety symptoms (d = -.57). Relative to controls,
adolescents in the intervention group maintained a higher quality of parental relationship (d = .41) and parenting skills (d = .51), suggesting a
prophylactic effect. Marginal decrease in the odds of positive drug tests were found for youth in intervention group (77.1% decrease, p=0.07) but not
with controls (54.3% decrease, p=0.42,). Conclusion(s): Results provide preliminary evidence in the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of
targeting risk and protective factors that are implicated in substance use via text-delivered interventions for high-risk populations.
, : 1-11
- Year: 2021
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Universal prevention
-
Treatment and intervention: Service Delivery & Improvement, Psychological Interventions
(any), Other Psychological Interventions, Technology, interventions delivered using technology (e.g. online, SMS)
Marquez-Morales, L., El-Kassis, E. G., Cavazos-Arroyo, J., Rocha-Rocha, V., Martinez-Gutierrez, F., Perez-Armendariz,
B.
Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota has been associated with different illnesses and emotional disorders such as stress. Traditional fermented
foods that are rich in probiotics suggest modulation of dysbiosis, which protects against stress-induced disorders. The academic stress was evaluated
in medical students using the SISCO Inventory of Academic Stress before and after ingestion of an aguamiel-based beverage fermented with
Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus paracasei and Lactobacillus brevis (n = 27) and a control group (n = 18). In addition, microbial phyla in
feces were quantified by qPCR. The results showed that the consumption of 100 mL of a beverage fermented with lactic acid bacteria (3 x
108 cfu/mL) for 8 weeks significantly reduced academic stress (p = 0.001), while the control group (placebo intervention) had no
significant changes in the perception of academic stress (p = 0.607). Significant change (p = 0.001) was shown in the scores for environmental
demands, and physical and psychological factors. Consumption of the fermented beverage significantly increased the phyla Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes
but not Gammaproteobacteria. No significant changes were found in the control group, except for a slight increase in the phylum Firmicutes. The
intake of this fermented beverage suggest a modulation of gut microbiota and possible reduction in stress-related symptoms in university students,
without changing their lifestyle or diet. Copyright © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
Nutrients, 13(5) (no pagination) :
- Year: 2021
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Depressive Disorders
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Complementary & Alternative
Interventions (CAM), Dietary advice, dietary change, Vitamins and supplements
Malik, K., Ibrahim, M., Bernstein, A., Venkatesh, R. K., Rai, T., Chorpita, B., Patel, V.
BACKGROUND: Psychological interventions such as behavioral activation
(BA) that focus on overt behaviors rather than complex cognitive skills may be developmentally well-suited to address youth mental health problems.
The current systematic review synthesized evidence on the characteristics, effectiveness and acceptability of behavioral activation (BA) to examine
its role as a potential 'active ingredient' for alleviating depression and anxiety among young people aged 14 to 24 years.\rMETHODS: Evidence
across the following sources were synthesized: (i) randomized control trials (RCT) evaluating interventions where BA has been used as a standalone
intervention or as part of a multicomponent intervention, (ii) qualitative studies examining the acceptability of BA as an intervention or as a
coping strategy among young people with lived experiences. Consultations with a youth advisory group (YAG) from India were used to draw inferences
from existing evidence and identify future research priorities.\rRESULTS: As part of the review, 23 RCTs were identified; three studies examined BA
as a standalone intervention, and the remaining studies examined multicomponent intervention where BA was a constituent element. The intervention
protocols varied in composition, with the number of intervention elements ranging between 5 to 18. There was promising but limited evidence in
standalone interventions for thse effectiveness of BA for depression. The impact of BA in multicomponent interventions was difficult to evaluate in
the absence of focal assessment of activation outcomes. Evidence from 37 additional qualitative studies of youth lived experience literature,
corroborated by the YAG inputs, indicated that young people preferred using behavioral strategies similar to BA to cope with depression in their own
life. Themes indicated that the activities that are important to an individual and their socio-contextual factors need to be considered in the
planning and implementing BA intervention. Evidence for the use of BA in anxiety was limited across data sources.\rCONCLUSIONS: Overall, there was
preliminary empirical evidence for the effectiveness and acceptability of BA for youth depression. Further research is needed to examine the
components and mechanisms that contribute to its effectiveness as an active intervention ingredient for depression and anxiety.
BMC
psychology, 9(1) : 150
- Year: 2021
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Depressive Disorders
- Type: Systematic reviews
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention), Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any), Cognitive & behavioural therapies (CBT)