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. 2014 Sep;4(5):765-74.
doi: 10.1002/brb3.274. Epub 2014 Aug 19.

Eight years later: outcomes of CBT-treated versus untreated anxious children

Gili W Adler Nevo  1 , David Avery  2 , Lisa Fiksenbaum  3 , Alex Kiss  1 , Sandra Mendlowitz  4 , Suneeta Monga  4 , Katharina Manassis  4
Affiliations

Eight years later: outcomes of CBT-treated versus untreated anxious children

Gili W Adler Nevo et al. Brain Behav. 2014 Sep.

Abstract

Background: Anxiety disorders are the most common psychiatric disorders of childhood, generate significant distress, are considered precursors to diverse psychiatric disorders, and lead to poor social and employment outcomes in adulthood. Although childhood anxiety has a significant impact on a child's developmental trajectory, only a handful of studies examined the long-term impact of treatment and none included a control group. The aim of this study was to conduct a long-term follow-up (LTFU) of anxious children who were treated with Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) compared to a matched group of children who were not.

Methods: Subjects comprised 120 children: a treatment group which included the first 60 consecutive consenting children who were diagnosed with an anxiety disorder and treated with CBT between the years 1997 and 2003 and a control group, 60 matched children who were assessed but not treated with CBT. An "ex-post-facto" design was used to compare the two groups.

Results: Children showed lower rates of anxiety diagnosis (about 50% for both groups) and significantly improved functioning at LTFU (time effect P < 0.0001; no group difference). Anxiety levels were significantly lower in the nontreatment group at LTFU as compared to initial assessment (P = 0.02), but not in the treatment group, and a significant between-group difference was found (P = 0.01) according to child. An inverse relationship was found between self-efficacy/self-esteem and anxiety outcome ([P = 0.0008] and [P = 0.04], respectively).

Conclusions: This study supports the assumption that childhood anxiety disorders may improve without treatment and highlights self-efficacy/self-esteem as potential factors in recovery.

Keywords: Adolescents; anxiety; children; cognitive–behavioral therapy; long-term follow-up; youth.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Points of attrition.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Pre-post anxiety levels. Change in standardized anxiety levels from baseline according to child (A) and parent (B) measures.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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