Chapter 8 - Treatment and prevention of childhood anxiety

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT) of phobias and anxiety disorders in children and adolescents. Cognitive-behavior treatment (CBT) essentially represents a fusion of behavior therapy and cognitive interventions. The behavior therapy component has evolved within learning theory and is based on the assumption that behavior that has been acquired via classical and/or operant conditioning can be corrected and changed. The cognitive component is grounded on the increasingly accepted notion that normal and abnormal human behavior is mediated by cognitive processes. The content of an exposure therapy for phobias and a cognitive-behavioral intervention protocol for more generalized anxiety problems is discussed, along with the studies related to demonstrating their short-term and long-term effectiveness. The issue of increasing the effectiveness of a cognitive behavioral intervention by the involvement of the family in this type of treatment is addressed. The chapter also discusses different psychological approaches for treating phobias and anxiety disorders in youths. It provides an overview of the psychopharmacological treatment of childhood anxiety problems and presents empirical trials evaluating their effectiveness. The current status of the psychological and pharmacological treatment of childhood anxiety disorders is also discussed.