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School-Based Interventions for Anxious Children: Long-Term Follow-Up

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Abstract

This study examined the long-term outcomes of a nonclinical sample of anxious children (N = 61) who were randomized by school to 9 weeks of group cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for children, group CBT for children plus parent training, or no-treatment control. Parents and children completed measures of anxiety symptoms at baseline, posttreatment, and at 3-, 6-, 12-month, 2-, and 3-year posttreatment follow-ups. Piecewise longitudinal growth curve analyses were applied to the data. When the two CBT groups were combined and compared with control, the combined treatment group showed significantly greater reduction in children’s anxiety severity based on the parent ratings in the first longitudinal phase. However, on the parent Clinician Severity Rating, gains were maintained to 3 years. Child report revealed no significant differences between groups on anxiety reduction. This study maintained a small no-treatment control group during the entire follow-up period. From parental perspective only, school-based group CBT appeared to be beneficial in decreasing severity of anxiety symptoms and maintaining gains over time.

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Notes

  1. Detailed data for the estimates comparing the two treatment conditions are available upon request to the first author.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by grants from NIMH (MH065369) and University of Minnesota Academic Health Center (G.A.B.). The authors thank the families and schools who participated in the study.

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None.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Minnesota Medical School, F282/2A West, 2450 Riverside Avenue, Minneapolis, MN, 55454, USA

    Susanne S. Lee & Gail A. Bernstein

  2. Chicago Neurodevelopmental Center, 601 Skokie Blvd, #203, Northbrook, IL, 60062, USA

    Andrea M. Victor

  3. Park Nicollet Health Services, 3850 Park Nicollet Blvd., St. Louis Park, MN, 55416, USA

    Matthew G. James

  4. Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology/Oncology, University of Chicago, 5721 South Maryland Avenue, MC8000, Suite K160, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA

    Lauren E. Roach

Authors
  1. Susanne S. Lee
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  2. Andrea M. Victor
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  3. Matthew G. James
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  4. Lauren E. Roach
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  5. Gail A. Bernstein
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Correspondence to Gail A. Bernstein.

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Lee, S.S., Victor, A.M., James, M.G. et al. School-Based Interventions for Anxious Children: Long-Term Follow-Up. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 47, 183–193 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-015-0555-x

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