Cognitive behavioural therapy for Japanese children and adolescents with anxiety disorders: a pilot study.
BACKGROUND
Thirty-three Japanese children and adolescents diagnosed with an anxiety disorder participated in individual or group Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) that was modelled after evidence-based intervention programs developed in Western countries.


METHODS
The treatment consisted of: (a) building rapport and education; (b) identifying emotions and recognizing cognitive self-talk; (c) challenging anxious self-talk; (d) developing an anxiety hierarchy and in vivo exposures; and (e) planning for future challenges.


RESULTS
Three months following treatment, 20 of the 33 children and adolescents (60.91%) no longer met criteria for their principal anxiety disorders and 16 (48.48%) were free from all anxiety disorders. Self-reported anxiety, depression, and cognitive errors also decreased significantly from pre- to post-treatment and these gains were maintained at 3-month follow-up. For the most part, similar outcomes were found in both the group and individual formats of CBT.


CONCLUSIONS
This study provides preliminary support for the transportability of CBT in both an individual and group format to Japan.
Doshisha University, Kyoto, Japan. ishinn@mail.doshisha.ac.jp
Shin-Ichi
S
Ishikawa
Naoyasu
N
Motomura
Yasuo
Y
Kawabata
Hidetaka
H
Tanaka
Sakie
S
Shimotsu
Yoko
Y
Sato
Thomas H
TH
Ollendick
D000293:Adolescent; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007171:Implosive Therapy / Q000379:methods; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology