Elsevier

Behaviour Research and Therapy

Volume 72, September 2015, Pages 30-37
Behaviour Research and Therapy

Comparing outcomes for children with different anxiety disorders following cognitive behavioural therapy

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2015.06.007Get rights and content
Under a Creative Commons license
open access

Highlights

  • Anxious children show differential response to CBT based on type of anxiety.

  • Children with SoAD have a poorer response to CBT than children with other anxiety.

  • Children with GAD or OCD have a better response than children with other anxiety.

  • Research is needed to enhance outcomes for children with social anxiety disorder.

Abstract

Objective

The purpose of this study was to compare treatment outcomes following a group family-based cognitive behavioural therapy for children with different anxiety disorders (social anxiety disorder, separation anxiety disorder, generalised anxiety disorder, specific phobia and obsessive compulsive disorder).

Method

This study utilised a clinical sample of 842 children and adolescents (aged between 6 and 18 years) and assessed outcome using diagnostic interview, parent-report and child-report.

Results

Based on diagnostic data and parent-reported symptoms, results revealed that children with a diagnosis of social anxiety disorder experienced a slower rate of change and poorer diagnostic outcomes at post treatment and follow-up than children with other anxiety disorders. Children with GAD showed better response to this broad-based intervention and children with OCD showed better response on one measure.

Conclusions

This study provides evidence for differential response to broad-based CBT for children, based on type of anxiety diagnoses.

Keywords

Cognitive behavioural therapy
Anxiety disorders
Children
Adolescents
Social anxiety disorder

Cited by (0)