Attachment as a predictor of non response to CBT treatment in children with anxiety disorders

TY - JOUR

T1 - Attachment as a predictor of non response to CBT treatment in children with anxiety disorders

AU - Walczak, Monika Anna

AU - Esbjørn, Barbara Hoff

AU - Breinholst, Sonja

PY - 2017/11/2

Y1 - 2017/11/2

N2 - Children’s and parents’ attachment patterns have been linked with the presence of pediatric anxiety disorders. The present study examined the role of attachment in predicting cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) treatment outcomes. A total of 69 children aged 7–13 years were assessed using a semi-structured interview, and treated with CBT. Differences between responders and nonresponders with regard to pretreatment characteristics were explored, and the predictive power of factors significantly different between groups was assessed using binominal logistic regression. Responders and nonresponders did not significantly differ with regard to child’s attachment to parent. Maternal attachment anxiety was found to be the strongest predictor of treatment outcome, remaining significant after controlling for symptoms severity. Results suggest that clinicians should pay more attention to how the relationships formed between anxious children and their anxiously attached mothers may prohibit a positive treatment response, and augment treatment appropriately.

AB - Children’s and parents’ attachment patterns have been linked with the presence of pediatric anxiety disorders. The present study examined the role of attachment in predicting cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) treatment outcomes. A total of 69 children aged 7–13 years were assessed using a semi-structured interview, and treated with CBT. Differences between responders and nonresponders with regard to pretreatment characteristics were explored, and the predictive power of factors significantly different between groups was assessed using binominal logistic regression. Responders and nonresponders did not significantly differ with regard to child’s attachment to parent. Maternal attachment anxiety was found to be the strongest predictor of treatment outcome, remaining significant after controlling for symptoms severity. Results suggest that clinicians should pay more attention to how the relationships formed between anxious children and their anxiously attached mothers may prohibit a positive treatment response, and augment treatment appropriately.

KW - Faculty of Social Sciences

KW - Childhood anxiety

KW - attachment

KW - parents

KW - CBT

KW - treatment response

U2 - 10.1080/14616734.2017.1339099

DO - 10.1080/14616734.2017.1339099

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 28612690

SN - 1461-6734

VL - 19

SP - 635

EP - 653

JO - Attachment & Human Development

JF - Attachment & Human Development

IS - 6

ER -