Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Metacognitive Therapy: Moderators of Treatment Outcomes for Children with Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Although cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is effective for childhood anxiety disorders, approximately 40% of youth remain anxious after treatment. Metacognitive therapy (MCT-c) for children with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) has shown promising effects. The present study aimed to examine if C...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Child psychiatry and human development 2019-06, Vol.50 (3), p.449-458
Main Authors: Walczak, Monika, Breinholst, Sonja, Ollendick, Thomas, Esbjørn, Barbara Hoff
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Age Factors
Anxiety
Anxiety - psychology
Anxiety Disorders - diagnosis
Anxiety Disorders - psychology
Anxiety Disorders - therapy
Behavior modification
Behavior therapy
Behavioral Science and Psychology
Child
Child & adolescent psychiatry
Child and School Psychology
Childhood
Children
Clinical outcomes
Cognitive ability
Cognitive behavioral therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - methods
Cognitive therapy
Comorbidity
Female
Generalized anxiety disorder
Humans
Male
Metacognition
Moderators
Original Article
Panic attacks
Patient Health Questionnaire
Patient Selection
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
Psychiatry
Psychology
Quasi-experimental methods
Severity
Social anxiety
Treatment Outcome
Youth
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Summary:Although cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is effective for childhood anxiety disorders, approximately 40% of youth remain anxious after treatment. Metacognitive therapy (MCT-c) for children with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) has shown promising effects. The present study aimed to examine if CBT and MCT-c show differential effects in children with primary GAD based on baseline characteristics, in a quasi-experimental design. To investigate which treatment is most beneficial for whom, three potential moderators: age, symptom severity, and comorbid social anxiety were examined. Sixty-three children aged 7–14 completed CBT or MCT-c. Participants were assessed before and after treatment. Both CBT and MCT-c were highly effective in treatment of childhood GAD. None of the selected variables significantly moderated treatment outcomes. Subgroups of children with high symptom severity and social anxiety comorbidity showed trends of responding better to CBT. Methodologically stronger studies are needed to facilitate a better adaptation of treatment for children with GAD.
ISSN:0009-398X
1573-3327
DOI:10.1007/s10578-018-0853-1