Disorders - Anxiety Disorders
Bradshaw, M., Gericke, H., Coetzee, B. J., Stallard, P., Human, S., Loades, M.
Depression and anxiety pose a significant burden during
adolescence, which may have consequences for adulthood and future generations. The mental health needs of children and adolescents in low- and
middle-income countries are not adequately addressed due to a lack of availability and access to services, and limited intervention research in these
contexts. Universal school-based interventions provide a unique and potentially scalable opportunity to prevent and address mental health concerns
amongst children and adolescents in low- and middle-income countries. This systematic review aimed to identify and provide a narrative synthesis of
universal school-based programmes delivered to children (aged 6-18 years) in low- and middle-income countries reporting on anxiety and/or depression
outcomes. We searched Academic Search Premier, ERIC, PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and ProQuest Dissertations using a pre-specified
search strategy. Of the 12,478 articles identified, 12 studies met our inclusion criteria and were included in this review. The included studies
report on a variety of interventions differing in approach, format and content. Given the small number of studies and concerns with study quality, we
are unable to conclude that universal school-based interventions may reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression in children in low- and middle-income
countries. Copyright © 2020 The Authors
Preventive Medicine, 143 (no
pagination) :
- Year: 2021
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any)
- Type: Systematic reviews
-
Stage: Universal prevention
-
Treatment and intervention: Complementary & Alternative
Interventions (CAM), Psychological Interventions
(any), Other Psychological Interventions, Mind-body exercises (e.g. yoga, tai chi, qigong)
Boldt, K., Coenen, M., Movsisyan,
A., Voss, S., Rehfuess, E., Kunzler, A. M., Lieb, K., Jung-Sievers, C.
The aim of this study was to identify interventions targeting children and their caregivers to reduce psychosocial
problems in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic and comparable outbreaks. The review was performed using systematic literature searches in MEDLINE,
Embase, PsycINFO and COVID-19-specific databases, including the CDC COVID-19 Research Database, the World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Database
on COVID-19 Research and the Cochrane COVID-19 Study Register, ClinicalTrials.gov, the EU Clinical Trials Register and the German Clinical Trials
Register (DRKS) up to 25th September 2020. The search yielded 6657 unique citations. After title/abstract and full text screening, 11 study protocols
reporting on trials planned in China, the US, Canada, the UK, and Hungary during the COVID-19 pandemic were included. Four interventions targeted
children >=10 years directly, seven system-based interventions targeted the parents and caregivers of younger children and adolescents. Outcome
measures encompassed mainly anxiety and depressive symptoms, different dimensions of stress or psychosocial well-being, and quality of supportive
relationships. In conclusion, this systematic review revealed a paucity of studies on psychosocial interventions for children during the COVID-19
pandemic. Further research should be encouraged in light of the expected demand for child mental health management.
International Journal of Environmental Research & Public Health [Electronic
Resource], 18(5) : 28
- Year: 2021
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any)
- Type: Systematic reviews
-
Stage: Universal prevention, At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any)
Benito, K. G., Herren, J., Freeman,
J. B., Garcia, A. M., Kemp, J., Chorpita, B. F., Sung, J., Arora, A., Georgiadis, C., Stewart, E., Wellen, B., Frank, H. E., Schiavone, E., Gervasio, M., Machan,
J.
This study tested whether a new training tool, the Exposure Guide (EG),
improved in-session therapist behaviors that have been associated with youth outcomes in prior clinical trials of exposure therapy. Sixteen
therapists in practice settings treated 46 youths with an anxiety disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Therapists were randomly assigned
to receive \"gold-standard\" exposure therapy training with weekly consultation (GS) or \"gold-standard\" training with weekly consultation plus the
EG (EG). The primary outcome was therapist behavior during in-session exposures, observed using a validated coding system. Secondary outcomes
included training feasibility/acceptability and observer-rated patient fear habituation; we also explored independent evaluator-rated clinical
outcome. As hypothesized, therapists used similarly high rates of exposure with patients in both groups, but those in the EG condition used more
fear-increasing behaviors and fewer fear-decreasing behaviors compared with those in the GS condition. Attendance data and therapist feedback support
EG feasibility and acceptability. Patients treated by EG-trained therapists showed increased rates of in-session habituation. Descriptive clinical
outcome data showed a slightly higher treatment response rate in the EG group (66.7% EG, 58.8% GS) that was more pronounced among patients completing
a posttreatment assessment (83.3% EG, 60.0% GS). Results confirm the effectiveness of EG training for improving therapist delivery behaviors. Future
studies will be needed to determine whether EG training can improve rates of patient treatment response via improved delivery behaviors. Public
Health Significance: This study shows that the Exposure Guide, a therapist training tool, improves therapist delivery of exposure. Copyright © 2021
Society of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology.
Evidence-Based Practice in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 6(2) : 173-
190
- Year: 2021
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Service Delivery & Improvement, Psychological Interventions
(any), Exposure therapy, Exposure
and response prevention, Other service delivery and improvement
interventions
Belski, N., Abdul-Rahman, Z., Youn,
E., Balasundaram, V., Diep, D.
Background:
Depression and anxiety disorders are considered to be among the greatest burdens of disease in children and adolescents. Recent literature has
reported music therapy to be a safe and potentially effective intervention for the treatment of depression and anxiety. This systematic review
examined the effectiveness of music therapy in reducing the symptom severity of depression and/or anxiety among children and adolescents. Method(s):
Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were obtained from a systematic search of nine major English databases from inception to January 2021. Studies
were categorized by outcome, music therapy technique and follow-up period. Result(s): Seven RCTs (n = 589) were included. Four RCTs had some concern
of bias, while three had high risk of bias. Statistical pooling was not appropriate due to clinical heterogeneity. Four studies (n = 428) favoured
music therapy for improvement of depressive symptoms at short- and intermediate-term follow-ups compared to control. One study (n = 106) favoured
music therapy for improvement of anxiety symptoms at short-term follow-up compared to control. No studies favoured any control over music therapy for
symptom improvement of depression and/or anxiety. Conclusion(s): Limited evidence suggests music therapy is an effective treatment for improving
depression and/or anxiety symptom severity in children and adolescents. More high-quality RCTs are needed to address methodological flaws of current
studies. Copyright © 2021 Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health
Child and Adolescent Mental
Health., :
- Year: 2021
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Depressive Disorders
- Type: Systematic reviews
-
Stage: Universal prevention, At risk (indicated or selected prevention), Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Complementary & Alternative
Interventions (CAM), Creative expression: music, dance, drama, art
Barnett, P., Arundell, L. L., Saunders, R., Matthews, H., Pilling, S.
BACKGROUND: Mental health problems are
becoming increasingly prevalent among students and adequate support should be provided to prevent and treat mental health disorders in those at
risk.\rMETHODS: This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the efficacy of psychological interventions for students, with consideration of how
adaptions to intervention content and delivery could improve outcomes. We searched for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of interventions in
students with or at risk of mental health problems and extracted data for study characteristics, symptom severity, wellbeing, educational outcomes,
and attrition. Eighty-four studies were included.\rRESULTS: Promising effects were found for indicated and selective interventions to treat anxiety
disorders, depression and eating disorders. PTSD and self-harm data was limited, and did not demonstrate significant effects. Relatively few trials
adapted intervention delivery to student-specific concerns, and overall adapted interventions showed no benefit over non-adapted interventions. There
was some suggestion that adaptions based on empirical evidence and provision of additional sessions, and transdiagnostic models may yield some
benefits.\rLIMITATIONS: The review is limited by the often poor quality of the literature and exclusion of non-published data.\rCONCLUSIONS:
Interventions for students show benefit though uncertainty remains around how best to optimise treatment delivery and content for students.
Additional research into content targeting specific underlying mechanisms of problems and transdiagnostic approaches to provision could be promising
avenues for further research.
, 280(Pt A) : 381-406
- Year: 2021
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Type: Systematic reviews
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention), Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Complementary & Alternative
Interventions (CAM), Psychological Interventions
(any)
Baker, H. J., Lawrence, P. J., Karalus,
J., Creswell, C., Waite, P.
Anxiety disorders are common in adolescence but outcomes for
adolescents are unclear and we do not know what factors moderate treatment outcome for this age group. We conducted meta-analyses to establish the
effectiveness of psychological therapies for adolescent anxiety disorders in (i) reducing anxiety disorder symptoms, and (ii) remission from the
primary anxiety disorder, compared with controls, and examine potential moderators of treatment effects. The protocol was registered with PROSPERO
(CRD42018091744). Electronic databases (Web of Science, MEDLINE, Psycinfo, EMBASE) were searched from January 1990 to December 2019. 2511 articles
were reviewed, those meeting strict criteria were included. Random effects meta-analyses were conducted. Analyses of symptom severity outcomes
comprised sixteen studies (CBT k = 15, non-CBT k = 1; n = 766 adolescents), and analyses of diagnostic remission outcomes comprised nine (CBT k = 9;
n = 563 adolescents). Post-treatment, those receiving treatment were significantly more likely to experience reduced symptom severity (SMD = 0.454,
95% CI 0.22-0.69) and remission from the primary anxiety disorder than controls (RR = 7.94, 95% CI 3.19-12.7) (36% treatment vs. 9% controls in
remission). None of the moderators analysed were statistically significant. Psychological therapies targeting anxiety disorders in adolescents are
more effective than controls. However, with only just over a third in remission post-treatment, there is a clear need to develop more effective
treatments for adolescents, evaluated through high-quality randomised controlled trials incorporating active controls and follow-up data.
Clinical Child
& Family Psychology Review, 24(4) : 765-782
- Year: 2021
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any)
- Type: Systematic reviews
-
Stage: Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any)
Anderson, D., Brown, S.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Nursing student stress has a major impact on academic performance and
testing anxiety is one prominent source. This study evaluated the influence of dogs in decreasing student anxiety at a nursing program prior to a
medication dosage calculation exam.\rMETHOD: This study uses a convenience sample randomly assigned to a control and intervention group with a pre-
pre, pre, post and post-post-test using the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. The intervention group experienced a therapy dog intervention
prior to the medication dosage calculation exam.\rRESULTS: Using a repeated measures one-way MANOVA, there was a statistically significance
difference between intervention and control groups Wilk's ^ = 0.761, F(8, 79) = 3.103, p < 0.01.\rCONCLUSION: A brief interaction with therapy dogs
prior to a medication calculation exam decreased anxiety in a convenience sample of nursing students. This study adds empirical knowledge to the
field of animal-assisted therapy and nursing student anxiety-coping methods.
Nurse Education in
Practice, 52 : 103042
- Year: 2021
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Universal prevention
-
Treatment and intervention: Complementary & Alternative
Interventions (CAM), Other complementary & alternative
interventions
Amini-Rarani, S., Rajai, N., Sharififar,
S.
Introduction: Military service is a stressful environment. Methods to
reduce stress may result in the mental health promotion of military forces. There are various methods for relieving anxiety. Acupressure is one of
them. Hence, this study was carried out to explore effects of acupressure at the P6 and LI4 acupressure points on the anxiety level of army soldiers.
Methods A randomised double-blind design was undertaken. A total of 120 Iranian army soldiers were randomly assigned to three groups, namely P6, LI4
and control. The P6 and LI4 acupressure points are effective in lowering the anxiety level. In the intervention groups, acupressure was applied at
the P6 and LI4 points three times for 10 min at 30 min intervals. In the control group, the thumb pad, which is not an acupressure point, was
pressed. The anxiety level of the subjects was measured before the intervention and 30 min after the last intervention. The instruments included a
demographics questionnaire and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Result(s): There was no significant difference between the three groups with
respect to the anxiety level in the preintervention phase. However, the mean anxiety score in the P6 group decreased significantly from 53.35+/-9.7
to 49.02+/-9.3 (p=0.005). The mean anxiety score in the LI4 group also decreased significantly from 53.37+/-8.39 to 45.47+/-8.16 (p<0.001). In the
control group, there was no significant difference between the preintervention and postintervention phases (p=0.16). In the postintervention phase,
the analysis of variance test showed a significant difference between the three groups in terms of the anxiety level (p=0.04). Conclusion(s):
Acupressure can reduce soldiers' anxiety at the acupressure points, especially at the LI4 point. It is recommended that this simple and cost-
effective intervention be used to relieve soldiers' anxiety in stressful situations. Copyright © 2021 Author(s).
BMJ Military Health, 167(3) : 177-
181
- Year: 2021
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Complementary & Alternative
Interventions (CAM), Acupuncture, acupressure
Alem,
Y., Behrendt, H., Belot, M., Biro, A.
In this paper, we evaluate the effects of a psychological training, called
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) on stress and risk and time preferences. MBSR is a well-known psychological technique, which is believed to
improve self-control and reduce stress. We conduct the experiment with 139 participants, half of whom receive the MBSR training, while the other half
are asked to watch a documentary series, both over 4 consecutive weeks. Using a range of self-reported and physiological measures (such as cortisol
measures), we find evidence that mindfulness training reduces perceived stress, but we only find weak evidence of effects on risk and inter-temporal
attitudes.
, 16(11) : e0258172
- Year: 2021
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Universal prevention, At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any), Mindfulness based
therapy
Al-Refae, M., Al-Refae, A., Munroe, M., Sardella, N. A., Ferrari, M.
Introduction: Many individuals and families are currently
experiencing a high level of COVID-19-related stress and are struggling to find helpful coping mechanisms. Mindfulness-based interventions are
becoming an increasingly popular treatment for individuals experiencing depression and chronic levels of stress. The app (Serene) draws from
scholarly evidence on the efficacy of mindfulness meditations and builds on the pre-existing apps by incorporating techniques that are used in some
therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Methods: Participants were randomly assigned to a 4-week
mindfulness and self-compassion-based cognitive smartphone intervention (Serene) or a wait-list control group. They were instructed to engage in
self-compassion andmindfulness practices and a cognitive restructuring task. They also completed measures that evaluated their levels of depression,
stress, anxiety, self-compassion, wisdom, psychological well-being, and subjective well-being. The intervention group was also instructed to track
their weekly engagement with the app. Standardized effect sizes for between-group differences were calculated using Cohen's d for complete case
analyses. Results: Complete case analyses from baseline to the end of this randomized controlled trial demonstrated significant moderate between-
group differences for depressive symptoms (d =
, 12 : ArtID 648087
- Year: 2021
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Depressive Disorders
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Universal prevention, At risk (indicated or selected prevention), Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Service Delivery & Improvement, Psychological Interventions
(any), Mindfulness based
therapy, Technology, interventions delivered using technology (e.g. online, SMS)
Ahmadi, R., Ahmadizadeh, R., Hasani, M., Saed, O.
Anxiety sensitivity (AS) is a common vulnerability in emotional disorders. Due to the
pathological role of AS, individuals with high AS are faced with emotional problems. Thus, cognitive behavioural interventions try to reduce these
problems by targeting AS. The present study aimed to compare the efficacy of transdiagnostic cognitive behavioural therapy (T-CBT) and construct-
specific CBT (CS-CBT) on AS, anxiety, depression, and positive and negative affect in these patients. To this end, 40 patients with high AS were
randomly assigned to one of the three groups of T-CBT, CS-CBT, and wait list. Participants were assessed using the Anxiety and Related Disorders
Interview Schedule for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3, Beck Anxiety Inventory,
Beck Depression Inventory-II, and Positive and Negative Affect Schedule at baseline, post-treatment, 3-month follow-up, and 6-month follow-up. The
findings showed that T-CBT and CS-CBT have a significant effect on AS, anxiety, and negative affect; however, contrary to T-CBT, CS-CBT is not
effective for reducing depression and positive affect. T-CBT had a more promising efficacy than CS-CBT in all treatment outcomes. The results show
better and more stable efficacy of T-CBT among patients with high AS. It is essential to consider AS as a target for cognitive behavioural
intervention for the spectrum of emotional disorders. Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the
Australian Association for Cognitive and Behaviour Therapy.
Behaviour
Change., :
- Year: 2021
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any), Cognitive & behavioural therapies (CBT)
Abdelhalim, A.
R.
Context: Stress, sleep disorders, and anxiety are
common mental health problems affecting many university students. Peppermint, as a traditional herb, may be used as an alternative to stimulant drugs
with less adverse effects to deal with mental health problems of the students. Aim(s): To evaluate the impact of oral Mentha piperita (peppermint) on
self-reported memory performance, anxiety, stress, and the quality of sleep in science students at Taibah University. Method(s): Eligible
participating students were allocated either to the experimental group or the control group. The experimental group was asked to drink either an
infusion of fresh aerial parts of peppermint once a day for four weeks, and the control group asked not to drink any peppermint or any other herbs
during the study (no treatment). Anxiety, stress, memory performance, and sleep quality of the participating student were assessed by self-reported
questionnaires before and after the peppermint treatment. Anxiety in the students was assessed by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, memory
performance was evaluated using the Prospective and Retrospective Memory questionnaire and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was used to assess the
sleep quality and patterns in students. Result(s): The scores of all the scales and subscales of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Prospective and
Retrospective Memory, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were significantly decreased in the peppermint group in comparison with the control
group after four weeks. Conclusion(s): Peppermint appears to significantly enhance memory, reduce anxiety and stress, and improve the sleep quality
of university students. Copyright © 2021 Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmacognosy Research
Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacognosy Research, 9(1) : 49-
57
- Year: 2021
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Universal prevention
-
Treatment and intervention: Complementary & Alternative
Interventions (CAM), Homeopathic, plant-based medicines