Therapy for youths with anxiety disorders: A second randomized clincal trial.

TLDR

The discussion offers suggestions for future research. Ninety-four children aged 9–13 with anxiety disorders were randomized to cognitive‑behavioral treatment or a waiting‑list control, with outcomes measured by diagnostic status, self‑, parent‑, and teacher reports, cognitive assessment, behavioral observation, and a 1‑year follow‑up. Analyses revealed significant improvements over time, with most measures showing greater gains for treatment, returning cases to normative limits and sustaining these gains at 1‑year follow‑up; age and comorbidity did not moderate outcomes, and enactive exposure after cognitive‑educational training emerged as an active driver of change.

Abstract

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.