2008-08-01
No differences between group versus individual treatment of childhood anxiety disorders in a randomised clinical trial
Publication
Publication
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry , Volume 49 - Issue 8 p. 886- 893
Background: The present study compares an individual versus a group format in the delivery of manualised cognitive-behavioural therapy (FRIENDS) for children with anxiety disorders. Clinically referred children (aged 8 to 12) diagnosed with Separation Anxiety Disorder (n = 52), Generalised Anxiety Disorder (n = 37), Social Phobia (n = 22) or Specific Phobia (n = 16) were randomly assigned to individual (n = 65) or group (n = 62) treatment. Method: Analyses were conducted separately for the intent-to-treat sample and the sample of children who completed treatment. Analyses included chi-square comparisons and regression analyses with treatment format as a predictor. Results: Forty-eight percent of the children in the individual versus 41% in the group treatment were free of any anxiety disorder at post-treatment; 62% versus 54% were free of their primary anxiety disorder. Regression analyses showed no significant difference in outcome between individual and group treatment. Conclusions: Children improved in both conditions. Choice between treatments could be based on pragmatic considerations such as therapeutic resources, referral rates, and the preference of the parents and the child.
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doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7610.2008.01877.x, hdl.handle.net/1765/29207 | |
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry | |
Organisation | Erasmus MC: University Medical Center Rotterdam |
Liber, J. M., van Widenfelt, B., Utens, E., Ferdinand, R., van Leeden, A. J. M., Gastel, W. V., & Treffers, P. (2008). No differences between group versus individual treatment of childhood anxiety disorders in a randomised clinical trial. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 49(8), 886–893. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7610.2008.01877.x |