GAD-Specific Cognitive Behavioral Treatment for Children and Adolescents: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

TY - JOUR

T1 - GAD-Specific Cognitive Behavioral Treatment for Children and Adolescents

T2 - A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

AU - Perrin, Sean

AU - Bevan, Denise

AU - Payne, Susanna

AU - Bolton, Derek

PY - 2019/12/1

Y1 - 2019/12/1

N2 - Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) designed to target generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in youth was examined in a pilot feasibility trial. Participants (aged 10–18 years) were randomized to either 10 weeks of individual CBT (n = 20) or supported wait-list (n = 20). Diagnostic status (primary outcome) was assessed blindly at post-treatment for both groups, and at a 3-month follow-up for treated participants. Two participants failed to complete CBT and retained their GAD during the trial. Intention-to-treat analyses revealed large between-group differences in favor of CBT at post-treatment for remission from GAD (80% vs 0%) and comorbid disorders (83% vs 0%), and for all secondary outcomes (child and parent-reported). All gains were maintained at 3-month follow-up in the CBT group. Consistent with the treatment model, significant pre- to post-treatment reductions in several cognitive processes were found for CBT but not wait-listed participants, with these gains maintained at follow-up. Further investigations are warranted. Trial registry: ISRCTN.com Identifier ISRCTN50951795.

AB - Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) designed to target generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in youth was examined in a pilot feasibility trial. Participants (aged 10–18 years) were randomized to either 10 weeks of individual CBT (n = 20) or supported wait-list (n = 20). Diagnostic status (primary outcome) was assessed blindly at post-treatment for both groups, and at a 3-month follow-up for treated participants. Two participants failed to complete CBT and retained their GAD during the trial. Intention-to-treat analyses revealed large between-group differences in favor of CBT at post-treatment for remission from GAD (80% vs 0%) and comorbid disorders (83% vs 0%), and for all secondary outcomes (child and parent-reported). All gains were maintained at 3-month follow-up in the CBT group. Consistent with the treatment model, significant pre- to post-treatment reductions in several cognitive processes were found for CBT but not wait-listed participants, with these gains maintained at follow-up. Further investigations are warranted. Trial registry: ISRCTN.com Identifier ISRCTN50951795.

KW - Adolescents

KW - Children

KW - Cognitive behavior therapy

KW - Generalized anxiety disorder

KW - Intolerance of uncertainty

KW - Laval model

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85065174400&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1007/s10608-019-10020-3

DO - 10.1007/s10608-019-10020-3

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85065174400

SN - 0147-5916

VL - 43

SP - 1051

EP - 1064

JO - Cognitive Therapy and Research

JF - Cognitive Therapy and Research

IS - 6

ER -