Case series: brief parent-child group therapy for childhood anxiety disorders using a manual-based cognitive-behavioral technique.
OBJECTIVE
To report on a brief parent-child group therapy program for children with anxiety disorders.


METHODS
Twenty-four children with an anxiety disorder and their parents participated in a 10-session treatment. Children were evaluated at pretreatment (T1), posttreatment (T2), 12-month follow-up (T3), and 36-month follow-up (T4). Ten children were also assessed on entering a waiting period (T0).


RESULTS
There were no significant symptomatic changes between T0 and T1. Anxiety symptoms decreased significantly during the treatment and follow-up periods. Depressive symptoms changed only during the follow-up period. The percentage of children with no current anxiety disorder was 71% at T2 and 91% at T4. Children of mothers with an anxiety disorder improved more than children of nonanxious mothers, whereas the anxiety level of anxious mothers remained stable.


CONCLUSIONS
Brief parent-child group psychotherapy may serve as a time-limited, cost-effective, and efficient intervention.
Toren
P
P
Tel Aviv-Brull Community Mental Health Center, Israel.
Wolmer
L
L
Rosental
B
B
Eldar
S
S
Koren
S
S
Lask
M
M
Weizman
R
R
Laor
N
N
D000293:Adolescent; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D005196:Family Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010552:Personality Assessment; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group