Cognitive-behavioral Therapy For Youth Anxiety Research Articles

Adapting Manualized CBT for a Cognitively Delayed Child With Multiple Anxiety Disorders

This study examined the effectiveness of a modified cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) program for the treatment of a cognitively delayed 8-year-old girl presenting with social phobia, selective mutism, and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Multimethod assessment, at pretreatment and posttreatment, included a semistructured diagnostic interview, self-reports, and parent and teacher reports. Cognitive delays were apparent at the initial assessment and confirmed on review of previous evaluations. CBT for anxious youth was implemented in a modified fashion to ensure that the methods built on the child’s competencies and were compatible with her developmental capacities. Following 20 CBT sessions, posttreatment assessment indicated significant reduction in anxiety symptoms, as indicated by the diagnostic interview and self-report and other report of symptomatology. The child no longer met diagnostic criteria for GAD or selective mutism at posttreatment. The case study illustrates how CBT can be modified and applied flexibly in response to individual needs and limitations of the child.

Emotion-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxious youth: A multiple-baseline evaluation

Examined the efficacy of an Emotion-focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (ECBT) for six anxious youths ages 7–13 years. All participants had a principal anxiety disorder (generalized anxiety disorder, separation anxiety disorder, or social phobia) based on the Anxiety Disorder Interview Schedule for Children—Child and Parent versions. Children and parents reported on anxious symptomatology using the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (MASC). To assess emotion-related competencies, children were administered the Kusche Affective Interview—Revised and children and parents completed the Emotion Expression Scale for Children (EESC) and Emotion Regulation Checklist (ERC), respectively. Cases began treatment after baselines of 0, 2, or 3 weeks. At posttreatment, the majority of children demonstrated improvements in anxious symptomatology, emotion understanding and regulation skills, and overall functioning. Such improvements in emotion-related skills, in addition to anxiety, are significant given that emotional competence is a crucial component in children's adaptive social functioning and psychological adjustment. These findings provide initial support for ECBT.

Should Parents Be Co-Clients in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Anxious Youth?

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for anxiety disorders in youth has been evaluated in randomized clinical trials (RCTs), and recent studies have sought to determine if the effects can be enhanced by an adjunctive parent component. The rationale for adding parents as active participants to treatment for anxious youth includes the notions that parenting factors (a) can contribute to the maintenance of anxiety, (b) could facilitate the generalization of treatment gains, and (c) have had favorable results in treatment of other childhood disorders. To date, there have been 9 CBT treatment outcome trials with anxious youth that included parents in treatment. This article (a) provides a critical review of the research on active parent involvement in CBT of anxious youth, (b) calculates and reports effect sizes emerging from these studies, and (c) recommends areas for future research.