title: Efficacy of transdiagnostic cognitive-behavioral group therapy for anxiety disorders and headache in adolescents.
abstract: Anxiety disorders and headache are both among the most prevalent disorders among adolescents. Although cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has proved its efficacy with each of these disorders individually, there are several barriers to its utilization, including cost, gaps in knowledge about treatment delivery and modes, and its utility with comorbid disorders. The current study examined the comparative efficacy of a 12 week TCBT Group treatment (n=32) versus treatment as usual group (n=31) (TAU) in adolescents with anxiety disorders and headache in a north Indian hospital based setting. Results from 63 adolescents suggested while both conditions improved significantly on the Headache Impact Test and Children's Global Assessment Scale, those receiving TCBT showed significantly greater improvement than those in the TAU condition. Participants receiving TCBT, but not those in the TAU condition, showed significant improvement on the State Trait Anxiety Inventory. The study provides evidence supporting the efficacy of TCBT in adolescents with anxiety disorders and headache. Further, group TCBT has the benefits of easy dissemination and increased access to evidence-based treatment, thus, lowering costs and therapist time.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, Delhi 110029, India. Electronic address: pragya.cp@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Pragya
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, Delhi 110029, India. Electronic address: drmanju.mehta@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Manju
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, Delhi 110029, India. Electronic address: rajeshsagar29@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Rajesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sagar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Adolescents; Anxiety disorders; Headache; Transdiagnostic cognitive behavioral therapy