title: d-Cycloserine does not enhance the effects of in vivo exposure among young people with broad-based anxiety disorders.
abstract: Use of the partial NMDA receptor agonist d-Cycloserine (DCS) to increase extinction to feared cues among anxious adults has shown mixed, although overall positive effects. Few studies have extended this effect to youth and none have addressed young people with broad-based anxiety such as separation anxiety, social anxiety, or generalised anxiety. In the current trial 51 children and adolescents with diagnosed anxiety disorders, aged 7-14 years received four sessions of graduated, experimenter-led, in vivo exposure to a hierarchy of feared cues relevant to their primary fear. They were randomly allocated to receive either 50 mg of DCS or a matched placebo capsule in a fully double-blind design. Both groups showed large reductions across sessions in their primary fear according to both parent and child report, but there were no significant differences between conditions at any session. The results are consistent with most studies to date of DCS-augmented exposure in young people.
authors: Centre for Emotional Health, Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, 2109, Australia. Electronic address: Ron.Rapee@mq.edu.au.
authors: Ronald M
authors: RM
authors: Rapee
authors: Centre for Emotional Health, Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, 2109, Australia.
authors: Michael P
authors: MP
authors: Jones
authors: Centre for Emotional Health, Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, 2109, Australia.
authors: Jennifer L
authors: JL
authors: Hudson
authors: CADE Clinic, Discipline of Psychiatry, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors: Gin S
authors: GS
authors: Malhi
authors: Centre for Emotional Health, Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, 2109, Australia.
authors: Heidi J
authors: HJ
authors: Lyneham
authors: Centre for Emotional Health, Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, 2109, Australia.
authors: Sophie C
authors: SC
authors: Schneider
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003523:Cycloserine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007171:Implosive Therapy; D008297:Male; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D018697:Nootropic Agents; D003523:Cycloserine
keywords: Anxiety; Child anxiety; Treatment; Youth; d-Cycloserine; in vivo exposure