Predictors of change following cognitive-behavioral treatment of children with anxiety problems: a preliminary investigation on negative automatic thoughts and anxiety control.
The purpose of the present study was to evaluate negative automatic thoughts and anxiety control as predictors of change produced by cognitive-behavioral treatment of youths with anxiety disorders. Forty-five high-anxious children aged between 9 and 12 years who were selected from the primary school population, received a standardized CBT intervention that was provided in a group format. Before and after the intervention, children completed scales of negative automatic thoughts and perceived control over anxiety-related events as well as a questionnaire for measuring DSM-defined anxiety disorders symptoms, which was the outcome measure. Results indicated that CBT was effective in reducing children's anxiety symptoms. Most importantly, the reduction of anxiety disorders symptoms was significantly associated with a decrease in negative automatic thoughts and an increase of anxiety control, which provides support for the notion that these variables are candidate mediators of CBT in anxious youths.
Muris
Peter
P
Institute of Psychology, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Burgemeester Oudlaan 50, Suite T13-37, P.O. Box 1738, 3000 DR Rotterdam, The Netherlands. muris@fsw.eur.nl
Mayer
Birgit
B
den Adel
Madelon
M
Roos
Tamara
T
van Wamelen
Julie
J
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D001010:Anxiety, Separation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D001143:Arousal; D002648:Child; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013850:Thinking; D016896:Treatment Outcome