Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Evidence-based Practice for Childhood Anxiety Disorders

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Anxiety disorders are among the most common psychiatric conditions in children and adolescents. Empirical evidence suggests that the majority of youth will show clinically meaningful benefits after a short-term course of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). This article presents an update on the status of this treatment literature and provides clinicians with a description of specific CBT strategies. A case example illustrating the implementation of these strategies is also included. Tips for managing frequently encountered obstacles and a clinical algorithm for sequencing strategies are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Albano, A. M., Chorpita, B. F., & Barlow, D. H. (2003). Childhood anxiety disorders. In E. J. Mash, & R. A. Barkley (Eds), Child Psychopathology (pp. 279–329). NY: The Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alfano, C. A., Beidel, D. C., & Turner, S. M. (2006). Cognitive correlates of social phobia among children and adolescents. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 34, 189–201.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 4th ed., Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR). Washington, D.C.: Author.

  • Barrett, P. M., Dadds, M. R., & Rapee, R. M. (1996). Family treatment of childhood anxiety: A controlled trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 64, 333–342.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Beidel, D. C., Turner, S. M., & Morris, T. L. (2000). Behavioral treatment of childhood social phobia. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 68, 1072–1080.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bogels, S. M., & Siqueland, L. (2006). Family cognitive behavioral therapy for children and adolescents with clinical anxiety disorders. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 45, 134–141.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chansky, T. E. (2004). Freeing your child from anxiety: Powerful, practical solutions to overcome your child’s fears, phobias, and worries. New York, NY: Random House, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Costello, E. J., Egger, H. L., & Angold, A. (2004). Developmental epidemiology of anxiety disorders. In T. H. Ollendick, & J. S. March (Eds), Phobic and anxiety disorders in children and adolescents (pp. 61–91). New York: Oxford University Press, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fonagy, P., Target, M., Cottrell, D., Phillips, J., & Kurtz, Z. (2002). What works for whom? A critical review of treatments for children and adolescents. New York: The Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Friedberg, R. D., & McClure, J. M. (2002). Clinical practice of cognitive therapy with children and adolescents: The nuts and bolts. New York: The Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ginsburg, G. S., Riddle, M. A., & Davies, M. (2006). Somatic symptoms in children and adolescents with anxiety disorders. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 45, 1179–1187.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ginsburg, G. S., Silverman, W. K., & Kurtines, W. K. (1995). Family involvement in treating children with phobic and anxiety disorders: A look ahead. Clinical Psychology Review, 15, 457–478.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ialongo, N., Edelsohn, G., Werthamer-Larsson, L., Crockett L., & Kellam, S. (1994). The significance of self-reported anxious symptoms in first-grade children. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 22, 441–455.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ialongo, N., Edelsohn, G., Werthamer-Larsson, L., Crockett, L., & Kellam, S. (1995). The significance of self-reported anxious symptoms in first grade children: Prediction to anxious symptoms and adaptive functioning in fifth grade. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 36, 427–437.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kendall, P. C. (1994). Treating anxiety disorders in children: Results of a randomized clinical trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 62, 100–110.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kendall, P. C. (2000). Guiding theory for therapy with children and adolescents. In P. C. Kendall (Ed.), Child and adolescent therapy: Cognitive-behavioral procedures, 2nd ed. (pp. 3–27). New York: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kendall, P. C., Flannery-Schroeder, E., Panichelli-Mindel, S. M., Southam-Gerow, M., Henin, A., & Warman, M. (1997). Therapy for youths with anxiety disorders: A second randomized clinical trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 65, 366–380.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kendall, P. C., & Hedtke, K. (2006). Cognitive behavioral therapy for anxious children: Therapist manual, 3rd ed. Ardmore, PA: Workbook Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laballarte, M. J., Ginsburg, G. S., Walkup, J. T., & Riddle, M. A. (1999). The treatment of anxiety disorders in children and adolescents. Biological Psychiatry, 46, 1567–1568.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • LaGreca, A. M., & Stone, W. L. (1993). Social anxiety scale for children-revised: Factor structure and concurrent validity. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 22, 17–27.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Langley, A. K., Bergman, R. L., McCracken, J., & Piacentini, J. C. (2004). Impairment in childhood anxiety disorders: Preliminary examination of the child anxiety impact scale—parent version. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, 14, 105–114.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Last, C. G. (2006). Help for worried kids: How your child can conquer anxiety and fear. New York: Guildford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Manassis, K. (1996). Keys to parenting your anxious child. Hauppauge, New York: Barron’s Educational Series.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mendlowitz, S. L., Manassis, K., Bradley, S., Scapillato, D., Miezitis, S., & Shaw, B. F. (1999). Cognitive-behavioral group treatments in childhood anxiety disorders: The role of parental involvement. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 38, 1223–1229.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rapee, R. M., Spence, S. H., Cobham, V., & Wignall, A. (2000). Helping your anxious child: A step-by-step guide for parents. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Silverman, W. K., Kurtines, W. K., Ginsburg, G. S., Weems, C. F., Rabian, B., & Serafini, L. T. (1999a). Contingency management, self-control, education support in the treatment of childhood phobic disorders: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 67, 675–687.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Silverman, W. K., Kurtines, W., Ginsburg, G. S., Weems, C. F., Lumpkin, P. W., & Carmichael, D. H. (1999b). Treating anxiety disorders in children with group cognitive behavioral therapy: A randomized clinical trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 67, 995–1003.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Silverman, W., & Kurtines (2005). Progress in developing an exposure-based transfer-of-control approach to treating internalizing disorders in youth. In E. D. Hibbs, & P. S. Jensen (Eds), Psychosocial treatments for child and adolescent disorders: Empirically based strategies for clinical practice, 2nd ed. (pp. 97–119). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spence, S. H., Donovan, C., & Brechman-Toussaint, M. (2000). The treatment of childhood social phobia: The effectiveness of a social skills training-based, cognitive-behavioral intervention, with and without parental involvement. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 41, 713–726.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Spencer, E. D., DuPont, R. L., & DuPont, C. M. (2003). Anxiety cure for kids: A guide for parents. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Strauss, C. C., Forehand, R., Smith, K., & Frame, C. L. (1986). The association between social withdrawal and internalizing problems of children. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 14, 525–535.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Suveg, C., Roblek, T. L., Robin, J., Krain, A., Schendbrand, S., & Ginsburg, G. S. (2006). Parental involvement when conducting cognitive-behavioral therapy for children with anxiety disorders. Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy, 20, 287–301.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wood, J. (2006). Effect of anxiety reduction on children’s school performance and social adjustment. Developmental Psychology, 42, 345–349.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wood, J. J., Piacentini, J. C., Southam-Gerow, M., Chu B. C., & Sigman, M. (2006). Family cognitive behavioral therapy for child anxiety disorders. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 45, 314–321.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Preparation of this article was supported by a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (K23 MH63427-02) awarded to the first author.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 North Wolfe Street/CMSC 312, Baltimore, MD, 21287-3325, USA

    Golda S. Ginsburg & Julie Newman Kingery

Authors
  1. Golda S. Ginsburg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Julie Newman Kingery
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Golda S. Ginsburg.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ginsburg, G.S., Kingery, J.N. Evidence-based Practice for Childhood Anxiety Disorders. J Contemp Psychother 37, 123–132 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10879-007-9047-z

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10879-007-9047-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation