Abstract
Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is the most empirically supported therapy for childhood anxiety disorders (CADs) but has not reliably outperformed other credible interventions. The current study used meta-analysis to examine the frequency with which the most common treatment components are included in outcome studies and the relation of these components to symptom improvement. Seventy-five studies were identified that included youth with an anxiety disorder treated with CBT or a comparison condition. The protocols for the 111 CBT conditions generally consisted of 12, 1-h sessions delivered to the child with minimal parent inclusion. A greater amount of in-session exposure was related to significantly larger effect sizes between CBT and waitlist control across reporters (− 0.12 to − 0.15; P’s <.05) and from pre- to post-treatment for child report (−.06; P <.01). Compared to treatments that omitted relaxation, treatments that included relaxation strategies were associated with significantly smaller pre- to post-treatment effect sizes across reporters (0.38 to 0.80; P’s <.05). The current study suggests that CBT protocols for CADs that emphasize in-session exposure and do not include relaxation have the potential to improve the efficacy and effectiveness of therapy. Dismantling studies directly testing these hypotheses are needed.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 102-121 |
Number of pages | 20 |
Journal | Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review |
Volume | 23 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 1 2020 |
Keywords
- Childhood anxiety disorders
- Cognitive behavior therapy
- Exposure therapy
- Literature review
- Relaxation
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
- Education
- Developmental and Educational Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Psychiatry and Mental health