Adapting Metacognitive Therapy to Children with Generalised Anxiety Disorder: Suggestions for a Manual

Barbara Hoff Esbjørn*, Nicoline Normann, Marie Louise Reinholdt-Dunne

*Corresponding author for this work
    14 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    The metacognitive model and therapy has proven to be a promising theory and intervention for emotional disorders in adults. The model has also received empirical support in normal and clinical child samples. The purpose of the present study was to adapt metacognitive therapy to children (MCT-c) with generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) and create suggestions for an adapted manual. The adaptation was based on the structure and techniques used in MCT for adults with GAD. However, the developmental limitations of children were taken into account. For instance, therapy was aided with worksheets, practical exercises and delivered in a group format. Overall, the intervention relied heavily on practising MCT techniques in vivo with therapist assistance. A detailed description of how the manual was adapted for this age group is given, and examples from a group of four children are presented in a case series. Findings indicate that the adapted version of the metacognitive techniques and manual for children is feasible.

    Original languageEnglish
    JournalJournal of Contemporary Psychotherapy
    Volume45
    Issue number3
    Pages (from-to)159-166
    Number of pages8
    ISSN0022-0116
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 22 Sept 2015

    Keywords

    • Children
    • Disorder-specific treatment
    • Generalised anxiety disorder
    • Metacognitive therapy

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