title: Predictors of outcome in a cognitive-behavioral group program for children and adolescents with social anxiety disorder.
abstract: The present study examined predictors of treatment outcome among children and adolescents with social anxiety disorder (SAD). Seventy-five participants (8-13 years) participated in a 12-session cognitive behavioral group treatment (CBT). Potential predictors were the pre-treatment severity of anxious symptoms assessed from both the child's and parent's perspective as well as depressive symptoms (child report only) and general emotional distress in parent (parent self-report). Furthermore, the relationship between treatment outcome and child's self-reported pre-post changes in self-consciousness and maladaptive anxiety regulation was investigated. Pre-treatment level of social anxiety reported by the child was a significant predictor for outcome, i.e. children with higher levels of social anxiety at pretreatment reported a greater reduction in social anxiety at post-treatment. Reduction in self-consciousness and maladaptive anxiety regulation both predicted reduction in social anxiety, although not independently. The results suggest that tailoring intervention to include strategies for emotion regulation of anxiety may improve treatment outcome.
authors.affiliation: University of Bielefeld, Department of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology and Psychotherapy, Postbox 100131, 33501 Bielefeld, Germany. hkley@uni-bielefeld.de
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kley
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Heinrichs
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bender
authors.forename: Brunna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tuschen-Caffier
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome