One Year Follow-up to Modular Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for the Treatment of Pediatric Anxiety Disorders in an Elementary School Setting

Abstract

The current study sought to evaluate the relative long-term efficacy of a modularized cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) program for children with anxiety disorders. Twenty four children (5-12years old) randomly assigned to modular CBT or a 3-month waitlist participated in a 1-year follow-up assessment. Independent evaluators blind to treatment condition conducted structured diagnostic interviews, and caregivers and children completed symptom checklists at pre- and post-, and 1year follow-up assessments. Analyses revealed that 71.4% of children who received CBT demonstrated a positive treatment response 1year following treatment, and 83.3% were free of any anxiety diagnosis at 1year follow-up. Analyses further revealed robust effects of intervention on diagnostic outcomes, caregiver- and child-report measures of anxiety at 1year follow-up. Results provide evidence of an ongoing advantage on anxiety-specific outcomes for this modularized school-based CBT program 1year post-treatment.