Disorders - Anxiety Disorders
Williford, A., Boulton, A., Noland, B., Little, T. D., Karna, A., Salmivalli, C.
The present study investigated the effects of the KiVa antibullying
program on students' anxiety, depression, and perception of peers in Grades 4-6. Furthermore, it was investigated whether reductions in peer-
reported victimization predicted changes in these outcome variables. The study participants included 7,741 students from 78 schools who were randomly
assigned to either intervention or control condition, and the program effects were tested with structural equation modeling. A cross-lagged panel
model suggested that the KiVa program is effective for reducing students' internalizing problems and improving their peer-group perceptions.
Finally, changes in anxiety, depression, and positive peer perceptions were found to be predicted by reductions in victimization. Implications of the
findings and future directions for research are discussed.
Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 40(2) : 289-
300
- Year: 2012
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Depressive Disorders
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Universal prevention
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any), Other Psychological Interventions
Young, Jami F., Makover, Heather B., Cohen,
Joseph R., Mufson, Laura, Gallop, Robert J., Benas, Jessica S.
Given the frequent comorbidity of anxiety
and depression, it is important to study the effects of depression interventions on anxiety and the impact of comorbid anxiety on depression
outcomes. This article reports on pooled anxiety and depression data from two randomized trials of Interpersonal Psychotherapy-Adolescent Skills
Training (IPT-AST), a depression prevention program. Ninety-eight adolescents were randomized to receive IPT-AST or school counseling (SC). Outcome
and predictor analyses were performed utilizing hierarchical linear models. IPT-AST adolescents had significantly greater reductions in anxiety and
depressive symptoms than SC adolescents during the intervention. Baseline anxiety symptoms predicted change in depressive symptoms for adolescents in
both intervention conditions, with adolescents low in baseline anxiety demonstrating more rapid change in depressive symptoms than adolescents high
in baseline anxiety. These findings indicate that IPT-AST is effective at decreasing both depressive and anxiety symptoms. For adolescents with
comorbid symptoms of anxiety, there may be slower rates of change in depressive symptoms following prevention programs.;
Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 41(5) : 640-653
- Year: 2012
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any), Interpersonal therapy (IPT), Skills training, Other Psychological Interventions
Mychailyszyn, Matthew P., Brodman, Douglas M., Read, Kendra L., Kendall, Philip C.
A meta-analysis of school-based interventions for anxious and depressed youth using QUORUM guidelines was conducted. Studies
were located by searching electronic databases, manual effort, and contact with expert researchers. Analyses examined 63 studies with 8,225
participants receiving cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and 6,986 in comparison conditions. Mean pre - post effect sizes indicate that anxiety-
focused school-based CBT was moderately effective in reducing anxiety (Hedge's g = 0.501) and depression-focused school-based CBT was mildly
effective in reducing depression (Hedge's g = 0.298) for youth receiving interventions as compared to those in anxiety intervention control
conditions (Hedge's g = 0.193) and depression intervention controls (Hedge's g = 0.091). Predictors of outcome were explored. School-based CBT
interventions for youth anxiety and for youth depression hold considerable promise, although investigation is still needed to identify features that
optimize service delivery and outcome. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved) (journal abstract)
Clinical Psychology: Science & Practice, 19(2) : 129-
153
- Year: 2012
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any)
- Type: Systematic reviews
-
Stage: Universal prevention, At risk (indicated or selected prevention), Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any), Cognitive & behavioural therapies (CBT)
Reynolds, S., Wilson, C., Austin, J., Hooper, L.
This paper provides a comprehensive quantitative review of high quality randomized
controlled trials of psychological therapies for anxiety disorders in children and young people. Using a systematic search for randomized controlled
trials which included a control condition and reported data suitable for meta-analysis, 55 studies were included. Eligible studies were rated for
methodological quality and outcome data were extracted and analyzed using standard methods. Trial quality was variable, many studies were
underpowered and adverse effects were rarely assessed; however, quality ratings were higher for more recently published studies. Most trials
evaluated cognitive behavior therapy or behavior therapy and most recruited both children and adolescents. Psychological therapy for anxiety in
children and young people was moderately effective overall, but effect sizes were small to medium when psychological therapy was compared to an
active control condition. The effect size for non-CBT interventions was not significant. Parental involvement in therapy was not associated with
differential effectiveness. Treatment targeted at specific anxiety disorders, individual psychotherapy, and psychotherapy with older children and
adolescents had effect sizes which were larger than effect sizes for treatments targeting a range of anxiety disorders, group psychotherapy, and
psychotherapy with younger children. Few studies included an effective follow-up. Future studies should follow CONSORT reporting standards, be
adequately powered, and assess follow-up. Research trials are unlikely to address all important clinical questions around treatment delivery. Thus,
careful assessment and formulation will remain an essential part of successful psychological treatment for anxiety in children and young people.
(copyright) 2012 Elsevier Ltd.
Clinical Psychology Review, 32(4) : 251-262
- Year: 2012
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any)
- Type: Systematic reviews
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention), Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any)
Radhu, N., Daskalakis, Z. J., Guglietti, C. L., Farzan, F., Barr, M. S., Arpin-Cribbie, C. A., Fitzgerald, P. B., Ritvo, P.
Background: Several lines of evidence suggest that cognitive
behavioral therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for depression and anxiety disorders. Evidence suggests that the therapeutic effects of CBT are
related to neurophysiologic changes in the cortex, particularly (gamma)-aminobutyric acid (GABA) potentiation. Transcranial magnetic stimulation
(TMS) represents a noninvasive method of measuring cortical inhibition, which is a neurophysiologic mechanism associated with the pathophysiology of
several psychiatric disorders. Objective/Hypothesis: To demonstrate the effectiveness of a 12-week CBT intervention compared with a wait list control
group measuring cortical inhibition in participants with pathologic perfectionism. Participants within the CBT group would demonstrate increases in
cortical inhibition and improvements on clinical outcomes relative to the wait list control group. Methods: Twenty-four right-handed perfectionists
were randomly assigned to a 12-week CBT intervention or a wait list control group. Cortical inhibition was measured at pre- and postintervention with
TMS paradigms specifically short-interval cortical inhibition and the cortical silent period, which index GABAA and GABAB receptor-mediated
inhibitory neurotransmission, respectively. Results: The CBT group demonstrated a significant potentiation of the cortical silent period when
compared with the wait list control group. The CBT group demonstrated a decrease in anxiety sensitivity and automatic thoughts relative to the
control group. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that CBT tailored for perfectionism is accompanied by an increase in cortical inhibition of
the motor cortex and positive changes on clinical outcomes. These findings provide compelling evidence for an association between positive CBT
effects and a potentiation of GABAergic inhibitory neurotransmission. (copyright) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Brain
Stimulation, 5(1) : 44-54
- Year: 2012
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Depressive Disorders
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any), Cognitive & behavioural therapies (CBT)
Pribis, P., Bailey, R. N., Russell, A. A., Kilsby, M. A., Hernandez, M., Craig, W. J., Grajales, T., Shavlik, D. J., Sabate, J.
Walnuts contain a number of potentially neuroprotective compounds like vitamin E, folate, melatonin, several antioxidative polyphenols
and significant amounts of n-3 a-linolenic fatty acid. The present study sought to determine the effect of walnuts on verbal and non-verbal
reasoning, memory and mood. A total of sixty-four college students were randomly assigned to two treatment sequences in a crossover fashion:
walnuts-placebo or placebo-walnuts. Baseline data were collected for non-verbal reasoning, verbal reasoning, memory and mood states. Data were
collected again after 8 weeks of intervention. After 6 weeks of washout, the intervention groups followed the diets in reverse order. Data were
collected once more at the end of the 8-week intervention period. No significant increases were detected for mood, non-verbal reasoning or memory on
the walnut-supplemented diet. However, inferential verbal reasoning increased significantly by 11.2%, indicating a medium effect size (P = 0.009; d =
0.567). In young, healthy, normal adults, walnuts do not appear to improve memory, mood or non-verbal reasoning abilities. However, walnuts may have
the ability to increase inferential reasoning. Copyright © The Authors 2011.
British Journal of Nutrition, 107(9) : 1393-
1401
- Year: 2012
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Depressive Disorders
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Universal prevention
-
Treatment and intervention: Complementary & Alternative
Interventions (CAM), Dietary advice, dietary change
Pace, T., Negi, L., Donaldson-Lavelle, B., Ozawa-de-Silva, B., Reddy, S., Cole, S., Craighead, L., Raison, C.
Purpose: Children
exposed to early life adversity (ELA) demonstrate elevated circulating concentrations of health-relevant inflammatory biomarkers which persist into
adulthood. Increased inflammation in individuals with ELA is believed to contribute to the increased risk for medical and psychiatric illnesses
observed in these individuals. The objective of this study was to determine whether Cognitively-Based Compassion Training (CBCT) reduces salivary
concentrations of Creactive protein (CRP) in adolescents with high rates of ELA, and to evaluate the relationship between CBCT practice time and
changes in CRP. CBCT is a meditation-based program designed to enhance compassion for self and others and to promote prosocial behavior. Based on
prior findings, it was hypothesized that practice time during the study would be more strongly associated with reductions in CRP than would group
assignment. Methods: Seventy-one adolescents between the ages of 13 and 17 (31 females) in the Georgia Foster Care system were randomized to either
six weeks of CBCT or a wait-list control condition. Saliva was obtained upon awakening prior to randomization and again 6 weeks later, as were
selfreport measures of depression and anxiety. Saliva was assayed for CRP using a high-sensitivity ELISA (Salimetrics, State College, PA). Trauma/
neglect history was obtained from state records. Participants completed practice time diaries as a means of assessing amount of engagement with the
CBCT program. Results: No between group differences were observed in salivary CRP concentrations, self-reported depression or anxiety symptoms.
Within the group randomized to CBCT, increased practice time was associated with reduced CRP from baseline to the six week assessment. Conclusion:
Engagement with CBCT positively impacts an inflammatory biomarker relevant to health in adolescents at high risk for poor adult health and social
functioning as a result of significant early life adversity, including placement in foster care.
BMC Complementary &
Alternative Medicine, 12 :
- Year: 2012
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any), Other Psychological Interventions
Mohebi, S., Sharifirad, G. H., Shahsiah, M., Botlani, S., Matlabi, M., Rezaeian, M.
Academic anxiety is an important
educational problem that affects millions of students in colleges and schools over the world each year. Although a low level of anxiety can cause
positive motivation for improvement of educational functioning, high levels of it can cause a disturbance in concentration, attention, storage of
knowledge, recall and educational reduction. It has also been recently determined that there is a relationship between anxiety and assertiveness.
Therefore, this study is an attempt to determine the effect of assertiveness training on reducing anxiety levels in pre-college academic students in
Gonabad city in 2008. In this clinical trial study, all the pre-college students of Gonabad city were invited to participate and 89 students were
divided into experimental and control groups. There were 3 questionnaires, namely demographic, academic anxiety and assertiveness Rathus
questionnaires in which the validity and reliability were calculated and approved. The intervention for the experimental group was 5 sessions of
assertiveness training using the PRECEDE model and 1 session for parents and teachers to help and support the intervention program. We had a post-
test 8 weeks after the last training session for each group was conducted. The data was analyzed by SPSS. The results showed that anxiety levels and
decisiveness in the target group were moderate to high and it is seen as a significant reverse relationship between these two factors (r = -0.69 and
p < 0.001). The results also showed that there was a significant anxiety decrease in the experimental group after the intervention. On the one hand,
there was a significant increase in decisiveness for both groups, but there was not a significant difference between academic anxiety and
assertiveness in the control group.before and after the intervention. Due to a significant decrease in anxiety and increased decisiveness in the
experimental group, it can be claimed that assertiveness training is an effective non-pharmacological method for reducing academic anxiety and it can
improve academic performance.
Journal of the Pakistan Medical
Association, 62(3 Suppl 2) : S37-41
- Year: 2012
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any), Other Psychological Interventions
Noggle, J.
J., Steiner, N. J., Minami, T., Khalsa, S. B. S.
Objective: To test feasibility of yoga within a high school curriculum and
evaluate preventive efficacy for psychosocial well-being. Methods: Grade 11 or 12 students (N (less-than or equal to) 51) who registered for physical
education (PE) were cluster-randomized by class 2:1 yoga:PE-as-usual. A Kripalu-based yoga program of physical postures, breathing exercises,
relaxation, and meditation was taught 2 to 3 times a week for 10 weeks. Self-report questionnaires were administered to students 1 week before and
after. Primary outcome measures of psychosocial well-being were Profile of Mood States-Short Form and Positive and Negative Affect Schedule for
Children. Additional measures of psychosocial well-being included Perceived Stress Scale and Inventory of Positive Psychological Attitudes. Secondary
measures of self-regulatory skills included Resilience Scale, State Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2(trademark), and Child Acceptance Mindfulness
Measure. To assess feasibility, yoga students completed a program evaluation. Analyses of covariance were conducted between groups with baseline as
the covariate. Results: Although PE-as-usual students showed decreases in primary outcomes, yoga students maintained or improved. Total mood
disturbance improved in yoga students and worsened in controls (p (less-than or equal to) .015), as did Profile of Mood States-Short Form (POMS-SF)
Tension-Anxiety subscale (p (less-than or equal to) .002). Although positive affect remained unchanged in both, negative affect significantly
worsened in controls while improving in yoga students (p (less-than or equal to) .006). Secondary outcomes were not significant. Students rated yoga
fairly high, despite moderate attendance. Conclusions: Implementation was feasible and students generally found it beneficial. Although not causal
due to small, uneven sample size, this preliminary study suggests preventive benefits in psychosocial well-being from Kripalu yoga during high school
PE. These results are consistent with previously published studies of yoga in school settings. (copyright) 2012 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, 33(3) : 193-201
- Year: 2012
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Universal prevention
-
Treatment and intervention: Complementary & Alternative
Interventions (CAM), Mind-body exercises (e.g. yoga, tai chi, qigong), Physical activity, exercise
Pina, A. A., Zerr, A. A., Villalta, I.
K., Gonzales, N. A.
Objective: This trial of a randomized indicated anxiety prevention and early
intervention explored initial program effects as well as the role of ethnicity and language on measured outcomes. Method: A total of 88 youth (M =
10.36 years; 45 girls, 52 Latino) received 1 of 2 protocols with varying degrees of parent involvement, and response was measured at posttest and 6-
month follow-up. Results: Findings showed that child anxiety symptoms improved significantly across protocols, although additional gains were found
for children in the child plus parent condition. Program effects did not vary by Latino ethnicity or Spanish language use in the intervention.
Conclusions: The cognitive and behavioral strategies established for Caucasian children may be promising for Hispanic/Latino children when applied in
a culturally responsive manner. (copyright) 2012 American Psychological Association.
Journal of Consulting & Clinical Psychology, 80(5) : 940-
946
- Year: 2012
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention), Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any), Other Psychological Interventions
Paul, M., Garg, K.
Coping with pressure and anxiety is an ineluctable demand
of sports performance. Heart rate variability (HRV) Biofeedback (BFB) shall be used as a tool for self regulating physiological responses resulting
in improved psycho physiological interactions. For further analysis, the present study has been designed to examine the relationship between anxiety
and performance and also effectiveness of biofeedback protocol to create stress-eliciting situation in basketball players. Thirty basketball players
of university level and above (both male and female) aged 18-28 years, who scored a minimum of 20 in state trait anxiety inventory, were randomly
divided into three equal groups- Experimental (Biofeedback) group, Placebo group and Control (No Treatment) group. The BFB group received HRV BFB
training for 10 consecutive days for 20 min that included breathing at individual's resonant frequency through a pacing stimulus; Placebo group was
shown motivational video clips for 10 consecutive days for 10 min, whereas No Treatment Control group was not given any intervention. Two way
repeated measure ANOVA was applied to analyze the differences within and between the groups. Anxiety, coping self-efficacy, heart rate variability,
respiration rate, and performance (dribbling, passing and shooting) at session 1, 10 and 1 month follow up were statistically significant in each
group along with interaction of group and time (p<0.001). Also, all the measures showed statistically significant inter group difference (p<0.05).
The findings are harmonious with existing data on HRV BFB as a strategy for dealing with anxiety. The Placebo group showed improvement in self
efficacy and performance post training. The Control group showed no change in any variable except performance. The results of the study support the
idea that HRV BFB lowers the anxiety and thus there seems to be a potential association between HRV BFB and performance optimization. (copyright)
Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2012.
Applied Psychophysiology Biofeedback, 37(2) : 131-
144
- Year: 2012
- 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
Keough, M. E., Schmidt, N. B.
Objective: Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent
psychiatric disorders in the United States and result in substantial burden to the individual and society. Although effective treatments for anxiety
disorders have been developed, there has been substantially less focus on interventions aimed at the amelioration of anxiety-related risk and
maintenance factors. Anxiety sensitivity (AS) is a well-established, malleable risk and maintenance factor for panic disorder and other
psychopathology. The aim of the current investigation was to enhance the efficacy of AS treatment through the refinement of a previously validated
intervention. Method: This 1-session intervention utilized psychoeducation and interoceptive exposure to target AS and was compared with a health-
focused control intervention among a nontreatment seeking sample (N = 104) of individuals with elevated AS. Results: Study findings indicate that the
active treatment group demonstrated significantly greater reductions in AS than the control group at posttreatment and across the 1-month study
period. These treatment gains were seen across the ASI subscales. A Month 6 follow-up assessment indicated that the treatment group retained the
majority of their AS reduction, whereas the control group retained their elevated AS scores. The intervention responses of participants meeting Axis
I diagnostic criteria did not differ from the responses of those without a current diagnosis. Conclusions: Despite the brevity of the treatment
intervention, findings demonstrate that it resulted in substantial reductions in AS that were largely maintained 6 months posttreatment. Anxiety
treatment and prevention implications are discussed. (copyright) 2012 American Psychological Association.
Journal of Consulting & Clinical Psychology, 80(5) : 766-
772
- Year: 2012
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any), Exposure therapy, Exposure
and response prevention, Psychoeducation