Contingency management, self-control, and education support in the treatment of childhood phobic disorders: a randomized clinical trial.
This study evaluated the relative efficacy of an exposure-based contingency management (CM) treatment condition and an exposure-based cognitive self-control (SC) treatment condition relative to an education support (ES) control condition for treating children with phobic disorders. Eighty-one children and their parents completed a 10-week treatment program in which children and parents were seen in separate treatment sessions with the therapist, followed by a brief conjoint meeting. Children in both the CM and SC conditions showed substantial improvement on all of the outcome measures. These gains were maintained at 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups. Interestingly, children in the ES condition also showed comparable improvements at posttreatment and at 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups. Implications of the findings are discussed with respect to knowledge development and clinical practice.
Silverman
W K
WK
Department of Psychology, Florida International University, University Park, Miami 33199, USA. silverw@fiu.edu
Kurtines
W M
WM
Ginsburg
G S
GS
Weems
C F
CF
Rabian
B
B
Serafini
L T
LT
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome