Evaluation of a Brief Child-focused Group-based Intervention for Anxiety-disordered Children

2003 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 109-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanessa E. Cobham

AbstractThis paper presents a pilot study of a brief, group-based, cognitive-behavioural intervention for anxiety-disordered children. Five children (aged 7 to 13 years) diagnosed with a clinically significant anxiety disorder were treated with a recently developed 6-session, child-focused, cognitive-behavioural intervention that was evaluated using multiple measures (including structured diagnostic interview, self-report questionnaires and behaviour rating scales completed by parents) over four follow-up occasions (post-treatment, 3-month follow-up, 6-month follow-up and 12-month follow-up). This trial aimed to (a) evaluate the conclusion suggested by the research of Cobham, Dadds, and Spence (1998) that anxious children with non-anxious parents require a child-focused intervention only in order to demonstrate sustained clinical gains; and (b) to evaluate a new and more cost-effective child-focused cognitive-behavioural intervention. Unfortunately, the return rate of the questionnaires was poor, rendering this data source of questionable value. However, diagnostic interviews (traditionally the gold standard in terms of outcome in this research area) were completed for all children at all follow-up points. Changes in diagnostic status indicated that meaningful treatment-related gains had been achieved and were maintained over the full follow-up period. The results would thus seem to support the principle of participant-intervention matching proposed by Cobham et al. (1998), as well as the utility of the more brief intervention evaluated.

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 276-292
Author(s):  
Sarah E Scott ◽  
Jeff D Breckon ◽  
Robert J Copeland

Objectives Physical activity is recommended for managing chronic health conditions but is rarely maintained. This feasibility study aimed to evaluate the preliminary efficacy of a motivational interviewing and cognitive-behavioural intervention for long-term physical activity for adults with chronic health conditions. Methods Participants ( N = 37) with stable conditions (e.g. diabetes) were randomized into a three-month motivational interviewing and cognitive-behavioural group ( N = 20) or usual care ( N = 17) after completing a physical activity referral scheme. Participants completed physical activity (e.g. average steps per day and kilocalorie expenditure), psychological (e.g. self-efficacy) and epidemiological (e.g. body mass index) standardized measures at baseline, three- and six-month follow-up. Treatment fidelity and feasibility were assessed. Results Thirty-five participants completed the study (96% retention). The motivational interviewing and cognitive-behavioural group maintained kilocalorie expenditure at three ( p = 0.009) and six months ( p = 0.009). Exercise barrier self-efficacy ( p = 0.03), physical ( p = 0.02) and psychological ( p = 0.01) physical activity experiences were increased at three months only. No difference was found for average steps/day, social support, coping skills and epidemiological factors. Discussion This is the first study to demonstrate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of motivational interviewing and cognitive-behavioural interventions for promoting physical activity maintenance in a clinical population. A large-scale trial with a longer follow-up (≥6 months) is warranted with treatment fidelity assessment.


1998 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 87-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Rollings ◽  
Neville King ◽  
Bruce Tonge ◽  
David Heyne ◽  
Dawn Young

This article describes a cognitive-behavioural intervention implemented over 10 sessions with an adolescent girl experiencing school refusal and depression. Treatment focused on the learning of various coping skills to deal with stressful situations at home and school. Following a decision to change schools, a rapid school return was employed. A multimethod, multisource evaluation was used at pretreatment, posttreatment, and follow-up assessments. The data indicated positive treatment outcomes: the adolescent returned to full-time attendance at school and exhibited decreased levels of emotional distress. The treatment gains were maintained at a 3-month follow-up.


2001 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grant J. Devilly

This research investigated the efficacy of an operantly cognitive-behavioural trauma treatment protocol (TTP) in two cases that had previously been treated unsuccessfully with EMDR. In line with previous research, both participants improved following TTP, to the extent where one of the participants was asymptomatic at post-treatment and 3 month follow-up. These cases also demonstrate the ability of a cognitive-behavioural intervention to successfully treat childhood sexual abuse victims later in life.


2005 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 236-248 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lara J. Farrell ◽  
Paula M. Barrett ◽  
Susanne Claassens

AbstractThe aim of the current pilot study was to examine the effectiveness of the FRIENDS program (a cognitive–behavioural intervention for children and adolescents with anxiety) within a community-based clinic in Brisbane, Australia. A total of 18 children participated in the study and completed the FRIENDS program at Pathways Health and Research Centre, an innovative research-based psychology clinic for children, adolescents and families. All participants either met criteria for an anxiety disorder (N = 11) or were experiencing subclinical symptoms of anxiety (N = 7) before commencing the intervention. Before and following treatment, participants were assessed using a diagnostic interview and completed a number of self-report questionnaires. Results indicated that 73% of the participants who met criteria for an anxiety disorder before the intervention were diagnosis-free following treatment. Positive treatment effects were also found for questionnaire data, indicating that there were significant reductions on self-report levels of anxiety and depression following treatment. The outcome of this research suggests that the FRIENDS program is an effective treatment for children with anxiety, and results from this community trial replicate findings from controlled treatment trials.


2004 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 117-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pauline L. Hall ◽  
Nicholas Tarrier

Low self-esteem in psychosis is common and has been found to be significantly related to a number of clinical variables and to symptom severity. This report describes the follow-up evaluation of a simple time-limited cognitive behavioural intervention aimed to improve feelings of low self-worth in the treatment of psychotic symptoms. A previous small scale pilot project found encouraging results for the efficacy of the novel intervention following its delivery and at 3-month follow-up. This report examines the benefits of the technique at 12 months following delivery of the intervention. These preliminary results suggest that the intervention may promote improved levels of self-esteem, psychotic symptomatology and social functioning over the longer term. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.


1994 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 259-264 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony P. Morrison

A 38 year old patient with auditory hallucinations was treated with a brief cognitive-behavioural intervention without concurrent medication. This intervention was based upon the theory of Bentall (1990a, b) and the methods of Haddock, Bentall and Slade (1993). The patient's ratings for frequency of hallucinations and distress caused were significantly reduced at end of treatment, and her belief in the reality of these voices was correspondingly diminished. These gains were maintained at one and three month follow-up.


2007 ◽  
Vol 41 (12) ◽  
pp. 990-997 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jules de Groot ◽  
Vanessa Cobham ◽  
Joyce Leong ◽  
Brett McDermott

Objective: The aim of the present study was to compare the relative effectiveness of group and individual formats of a family-focused cognitive–behavioural intervention, for the treatment of childhood anxiety disorders. Method: Twenty-nine clinically anxious children aged between 7 and 12 years were randomly allocated to either individual cognitive–behaviour therapy (ICBT) or group cognitive–behaviour therapy (GCBT). Results: At post-treatment assessment 57% of children in the ICBT condition no longer met criteria for any anxiety disorder, compared to 47% of children in the GCBT condition. At 3 month follow up these improvements were retained with some weakening. By the 6 month follow up 50% of children in the ICBT compared to 53% of children in the GCBT condition were anxiety diagnosis free. In terms of questionnaire data, no significant differences were detected between the ICBT and GCBT conditions at any of the follow-up points. However, a significant treatment effect for time was found, with both self-reports and parent reports indicating a significant reduction over time in anxiety symptoms. Conclusion: Overall, results suggest that children with anxiety disorders appear to improve following a family-focused cognitive behavioural intervention, regardless of individual or group administration. The interpretation and potential clinical implications of these findings are discussed, together with the limitations of this study and suggestions for future research.


2014 ◽  
Vol 43 (6) ◽  
pp. 744-758 ◽  
Author(s):  
Freda McManus ◽  
Gavin Clark ◽  
Kate Muse ◽  
Roz Shafran

Background: Patients with anxiety disorder diagnoses commonly have more than one anxiety diagnosis. While cognitive-behavioural interventions have proven efficacy in treating single anxiety disorder diagnoses, there has been little investigation of their efficacy in treating co-occurring anxiety disorders. Aims: To evaluate the efficacy of a transdiagnostic cognitive-behavioural intervention for treating co-occurring anxiety disorders. Method: An A-B single case study design (N = 6) was used to evaluate the efficacy of a 12 to 13-session modular transdiagnostic cognitive-behavioural intervention for treating co-occurring anxiety disorders across patients with at least two of the following diagnoses: GAD, Social Phobia, Panic Disorder and/or OCD. Results: Five of the six participants completed treatment. At posttreatment assessment the five treatment completers achieved diagnostic and symptomatic change, with three participants being diagnosis free. All participants who completed treatment no longer met criteria for any DSM-IV-TR Axis-I diagnosis at the 3-month follow-up assessment, and demonstrated reliable and clinically-significant improvements in symptoms. Across the participants, statistically significant improvements from pre to postintervention were found on measures of anxiety, depression and general well-being, and all improvements were maintained at 3-month follow-up. Conclusions: Results suggest that transdiagnostic cognitive behavioural interventions can be of benefit to patients with co-occurring anxiety disorders.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (04) ◽  
pp. 8-8

Sitnikova et al. A brief cognitive behavioural intervention is cost-effective for primary care patients with medically unexplained physical symptoms compared to usual care. J Psychosom Res, epub Aug 2020 Personen mit körperlichen Beschwerden, die sich nicht oder nicht hinreichend auf eine organische Erkrankung zurückführen lassen, machen einen beträchtlichen Anteil von Patienten in Allgemeinarztpraxen oder Krankenhäusern aus. Die Symptome können zeitweise auftreten oder bei Chronifizierung als Somatoforme Störung diagnostiziert werden. Die Beschwerden gehen häufig mit einer Beeinträchtigung der Lebensqualität, funktionalen Einschränkungen sowie psychischen Störungen einher.


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