Treating anxiety disorders in children: Results of a randomized clinical trial.

TLDR

Effective child therapy depends on specific characteristics, yet research on treatment components and alternative methods remains limited. The study examined the effectiveness of a psychosocial treatment for 47 children aged 9–13 with anxiety disorders. A 16‑session cognitive‑behavioral program was compared to a wait‑list control, with outcomes measured by self‑report, parent and teacher reports, cognitive tests, and behavioral observations, and changes were tracked through a one‑year follow‑up. Most treated children no longer met diagnostic criteria at post‑treatment and at one‑year follow‑up and scored within normal limits on several measures, while therapeutic alliance and parental involvement did not predict outcomes.

Abstract

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.