Cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety-disordered youth: secondary outcomes from a randomized clinical trial evaluating child and family modalities

J Anxiety Disord. 2009 Apr;23(3):341-9. doi: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2009.01.003. Epub 2009 Jan 20.

Abstract

This study examined secondary outcomes of a randomized clinical trial that evaluated an individual cognitive-behavioral (ICBT), family-based cognitive-behavioral (FCBT), and family-based education, support and attention (FESA) treatment for anxious youth. Participants (161) were between 7 and 14 years (M=10.27) of age and had a principal diagnosis of separation anxiety disorder, social phobia, and/or generalized anxiety disorder. Hierarchical linear modeling examined youth-reported depressive symptomatology and parent- and teacher-reported externalizing behavior and adaptive functioning at pretreatment, posttreatment, and 1-year follow-up. In general, youth in all treatments evidenced improvements in most domains, with improvements maintained at follow-up. Overall, gender and age did not moderate treatment outcomes. The results suggest that both child and family cognitive-behavioral therapy, and the family-based supportive approach used in this study, can be effective in addressing some of the associated symptoms and adaptive functioning deficits typically linked to anxiety in youth.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological
  • Adolescent
  • Anxiety, Separation / diagnosis
  • Anxiety, Separation / psychology
  • Anxiety, Separation / therapy*
  • Child
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / methods*
  • Family / psychology*
  • Family Therapy / methods*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Phobic Disorders / diagnosis
  • Phobic Disorders / psychology
  • Phobic Disorders / therapy*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires