Increasing access to low-intensity interventions for childhood anxiety: A pilot study of a guided self-help program for Scandinavian parents

TY - JOUR

T1 - Increasing access to low-intensity interventions for childhood anxiety

T2 - A pilot study of a guided self-help program for Scandinavian parents

AU - Esbjørn, Barbara Hoff

AU - Breinholst, Sonja

AU - Christiansen, Bianca Munkebo

AU - Bukh, Lotte

AU - Walczak, Monika Anna

PY - 2019/8/1

Y1 - 2019/8/1

N2 - Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for child anxiety. However, access to treatment is limited. It has been suggested that low-intensity formats of parent-delivered CBT may improve access to treatment. Our aim was to develop and pilot-test the acceptability and effect of a low-intensity therapist-guided parent-delivered group program for anxious children (age 7–12 years) adjusted to the Scandinavian culture. The program required 1.5 hours of therapist-time per family. Mothers, fathers and children reported on revised child anxiety and depression scale (RCADS) at referral, pre- and post-treatment. Mothers and fathers also gave a qualitative account of their experiences. Thirty-one families were enrolled and only one family dropped out. Mean age of the children was 9 years. Intent-to-treat analyses revealed significant reductions in anxiety and depressive symptoms from pre- to post-treatment for all informants. Large effect sizes were found for child anxiety symptoms as reported by mothers and fathers, and for child depressive symptoms as reported by mothers. Medium to large effect sizes was found for the self-reported anxiety symptoms by the children, and for depressive symptoms reported by both children and fathers. More than 93% of the parents would recommend the program. Results suggest that our program may provide a new approach to improve access to treatment for anxious children in Scandinavia; however, further research must be conducted before firm conclusions can be drawn.

AB - Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for child anxiety. However, access to treatment is limited. It has been suggested that low-intensity formats of parent-delivered CBT may improve access to treatment. Our aim was to develop and pilot-test the acceptability and effect of a low-intensity therapist-guided parent-delivered group program for anxious children (age 7–12 years) adjusted to the Scandinavian culture. The program required 1.5 hours of therapist-time per family. Mothers, fathers and children reported on revised child anxiety and depression scale (RCADS) at referral, pre- and post-treatment. Mothers and fathers also gave a qualitative account of their experiences. Thirty-one families were enrolled and only one family dropped out. Mean age of the children was 9 years. Intent-to-treat analyses revealed significant reductions in anxiety and depressive symptoms from pre- to post-treatment for all informants. Large effect sizes were found for child anxiety symptoms as reported by mothers and fathers, and for child depressive symptoms as reported by mothers. Medium to large effect sizes was found for the self-reported anxiety symptoms by the children, and for depressive symptoms reported by both children and fathers. More than 93% of the parents would recommend the program. Results suggest that our program may provide a new approach to improve access to treatment for anxious children in Scandinavia; however, further research must be conducted before firm conclusions can be drawn.

KW - CBT

KW - child anxiety

KW - guided self-help

KW - low-intensity intervention

KW - parent-delivered

U2 - 10.1111/sjop.12544

DO - 10.1111/sjop.12544

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 31099055

AN - SCOPUS:85066024988

SN - 0036-5564

VL - 60

SP - 323

EP - 328

JO - Scandinavian Journal of Psychology

JF - Scandinavian Journal of Psychology

IS - 4

ER -