title: A selective intervention program for inhibited preschool-aged children of parents with an anxiety disorder: effects on current anxiety disorders and temperament.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The current study evaluated the efficacy of early intervention for preschool-aged children selected on the basis of risk who also met diagnostic criteria for anxiety disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-one 3- to 4-year-old children were selected based on demonstrating high levels of inhibition and having a parent with a current anxiety disorder. They were randomly allocated to an eight-session parent intervention or waitlist.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline, all of the children met criteria for one or more anxiety disorders. At 6-month follow-up, the intervention group showed a significantly greater reduction in anxiety disorders and less interference from their anxiety than the waitlist. In addition, children in the intervention condition showed greater reductions in parent and laboratory observed measures of behavioral inhibition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that a brief early intervention delivered through parents can reduce current anxiety and associated risk and may have the potential to alter the developmental trajectory of anxiety in a high-risk group of young children.
authors.affiliation: Drs. Kennedy, Rapee, and Edwards are with the Centre for Emotional Health, Macquarie University.
authors.forename: Susan J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.affiliation: Drs. Kennedy, Rapee, and Edwards are with the Centre for Emotional Health, Macquarie University. Electronic address: Ron.Rapee@mq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Ronald M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Rapee
authors.affiliation: Drs. Kennedy, Rapee, and Edwards are with the Centre for Emotional Health, Macquarie University.
authors.forename: Susan L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Edwards
mesh_terms: D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018479:Early Intervention, Educational; D004493:Education; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D009517:New South Wales; D010552:Personality Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012792:Shyness; D012951:Socialization; D013694:Temperament