Preventing Anxiety and Promoting Social and Emotional Strength in Preschool Children: A Universal Evaluation of the Fun FRIENDS Program

This study sought to examine, for the first time, the efficacy of The Fun FRIENDS program (Barrett, 2007a, b), a school-based, universal preventative intervention program for preschool children. The Fun FRIENDS program aims to teach children cognitive-behavioural strategies in a play-based manner to prevent anxiety and to increase social and emotional strength. Participants were 263 children aged four to six years attending preschool in Brisbane, Australia. Schools were randomly allocated to an intervention group (IG) or a waiting list control group (WLG). Parent report data revealed no significant differences between the IG and WLG on anxiety, behavioural inhibition (BI) and socialemotional strength at post-intervention. At 12-month follow-up, improvements were found on anxiety, BI and social-emotional competence for children in the IG. Teacher reports revealed significant improvements at post-intervention on BI and social-emotional strength for children who had received the program. The implications of these findings are discussed, along with limitations and directions for future research.     

School-based prevention of anxiety and depression: a pilot study in Sweden

Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent form of psychopathology in children. Anxiety disorders often begin early in life, involve great suffering, and predict psychiatric problems. Unfortunately, only a few children with anxiety disorders will receive effective treatment. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of FRIENDS for Life, an Australian school-based prevention programme, with children from Sweden. Participants were 50 children, and the impact of the programme was measured at three time points on the outcomes of anxiety, depression, and general mental health. Results showed a decrease in depressive symptoms and difficulties, and an increase in strengths, for those children receiving the programme. For those children at risk for anxiety receiving the programme, the results also showed a decrease in anxiety symptoms. Overall, the study suggests that FRIENDS for Life could be a promising intervention for Swedish children.     

Can the “My FRIENDS” Anxiety Prevention Programme Also be Used to Prevent Aggression? A Six-Month Follow-Up in a School

Aggression and externalisation problems at school hold negative consequences for both the perpetrators and the victims. This paper argues that the relationship between anxiety and aggression may make it possible to use certain anxiety prevention programmes to help prevent aggression. This hypothesis was tested on a sample of early adolescents using a quasi-experimental design with a control group. Four classes of early adolescents (N?=?73) were randomly assigned to the control or intervention group. The intervention group was exposed at school to an anxiety prevention programme based on social and emotional learning called My FRIENDS. Aggression and externalisation problems were measured before the intervention, immediately after and at a six-month follow-up. The results show: (a) in the control group, aggression (dimensions: aggression towards authority, physical aggression) increased over the study period, whereas in the intervention group, it remained at the baseline level after the intervention and at the six-month follow-up; (b) externalisation problems (dimension: hyperactivity) were reduced in the intervention group relative to the baseline after the intervention and at the six-month follow-up. The results support use of the My FRIENDS programme as a possible prevention programme for aggression and externalisation problems as well as anxiety. Study limitations and future research directions are considered.     

Brief intervention for co-occurring anxiety and depression in primary care: a pilot study

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a brief cognitive-behavioral intervention for co-occurring anxiety and depression in primary care patients. METHOD: Participants in this study were 35 veterans seeking care from a VA primary care clinic. Patients were selected for inclusion in this study based on mild to moderate levels of self-reported symptoms of anxiety and depression. Participants received four weekly sessions of cognitive behavioral intervention for their symptoms. The effectiveness of this intervention was compared with the passage of time alone. Measured outcomes included symptoms of anxiety and depression and quality of life. RESULTS: Statistical testing demonstrated that the intervention led to significant reductions in depression and anxiety and improved role functioning. These changes were maintained except for some return of anxiety over a one-month follow-up period following the end of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that primary care patients with co-occurring anxiety and depression can be successfully treated with a brief cognitive-behavioral intervention. It is also a test of a flexible treatment approach, whereby the patient and clinician together select the focus of the intervention. Limitations of this pilot work, including patient attrition, are discussed. Further research will be necessary to refine the intervention for primary care patients and to test its effectiveness.     

The FRIENDS Emotional Health Programme: Initial Findings from a School-Based Project

Emotional disorders in children are common and although effective interventions are available comparatively few receive specialist help. School nurses were trained to deliver an evidence-based emotional health cognitive behaviour therapy programme, FRIENDS, to 106 non-referred children aged 9–10 attending three schools. Levels of anxiety and self-esteem were stable in the 6-month period before FRIENDS. Three months after completing FRIENDS, anxiety had significantly decreased and self-esteem increased. Children with the most severe emotional problems benefited from the programme. The value of delivering standardised evidence based programmes in schools by school nurses is discussed and the need for further research highlighted.     

Cognitive behavioural group treatment for social anxiety in schizophrenia

Anxiety symptoms reported by individuals with schizophrenia have been traditionally seen as symptoms associated with the principal disorder and therefore not requiring special attention. The primary aim of this paper is to therapeutically target social anxiety symptoms in individuals with schizophrenia in order to determine the effectiveness of the cognitive behavioural group treatment model as an intervention for social anxiety in this participant group. Thirty-three individuals with schizophrenia and co-morbid social anxiety were allocated to a group-based cognitive behaviour (CBGT) intervention or waitlist control (WLC). Baseline, completion and follow-up ratings consist of measures of social anxiety: the Brief Social Phobia Scale (BSPS), Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation scale (BFNE) and the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS); measures of general psychopathology: the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS) and Global Severity Index (GSI) from the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI); and the Quality of Life, Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire (QLESQ). Pre- and post-treatment measures were subjected to statistical evaluation. All outcome measures displayed statistical improvement in the intervention group compared with no change in the control group. These treatment gains were maintained at follow-up. CBGT for social anxiety in schizophrenia was demonstrated to be effective as an adjunctive treatment for this population.     

Integrating evidence-based treatments with individual needs in an outpatient facility for eating disorders

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a day treatment program for 77 women diagnosed with eating disorders. The program utilizes an integrative approach, combining evidence-based treatments such as cognitive-behavioral therapy with clinical experience and additional multimodal interventions based on individual needs. Three modes of treatment used in the program (group therapy, family therapy, and individual therapy) and two levels of treatment (partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient) are described in detail. The effectiveness of the treatment program was evaluated by comparing pre-treatment and post-treatment data on outcome measures for eating disorder attitudes, personality characteristics, and symptoms, as well as depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms. Results indicated that after an average of 12.8 weeks of treatment, patients reported a significant reduction in eating disorder symptoms, depressive symptoms, and anxiety symptoms, and a significant increase in weight at post-treatment. Implications of these findings and directions for future research are discussed.     

Integrating Evidence-Based Treatments with Individual Needs in an Outpatient Facility for Eating Disorders

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a day treatment program for 77 women diagnosed with eating disorders. The program utilizes an integrative approach, combining evidence-based treatments such as cognitive-behavioral therapy with clinical experience and additional multimodal interventions based on individual needs. Three modes of treatment used in the program (group therapy, family therapy, and individual therapy) and two levels of treatment (partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient) are described in detail. The effectiveness of the treatment program was evaluated by comparing pre-treatment and post-treatment data on outcome measures for eating disorder attitudes, personality characteristics, and symptoms, as well as depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms. Results indicated that after an average of 12.8 weeks of treatment, patients reported a significant reduction in eating disorder symptoms, depressive symptoms, and anxiety symptoms, and a significant increase in weight at post-treatment. Implications of these findings and directions for future research are discussed.     

A psychological early intervention program for the prepsychotic prodromal state. A case report

We introduce a multimodular, psychological outpatient, intervention program for the treatment of the early prodromal stage which includes individual and group psychotherapy, cognitive training, and family support. The conceptual framework is comprised of the vulnerability and stress-coping concept for schizophrenia. We use cognitive-behavioural strategies which are derived from first-episode and relapse prevention in the treatment of schizophrenia and from the treatment of anxiety disorders and depression. We report the case of a 25-year-old college student in the early prodromal state who was treated by the program. His self-experienced neuropsychological deficits improved, depressive and anxiety symptoms decreased, and positive self-concept was stabilised. During the treatment period of 1 year, social deterioration and prepsychotic and psychotic symptoms were prevented.     

Public beliefs about the helpfulness of interventions for depression: effects on actions taken when experiencing anxiety and depression symptoms

OBJECTIVE: Previous research has shown that the public have different beliefs to mental health professionals about the helpfulness of interventions for mental disorders. However, it is not known whether the public's beliefs actually influence their behaviour when they develop psychiatric symptoms. METHOD: A postal survey of 3,109 Australian adults was used to assess beliefs about the helpfulness of a broad range of interventions for depression, as well as respondents' current level of anxiety and depression symptoms and any history of treated depression. A follow-up survey of 422 persons who had a high level of symptoms at baseline was conducted 6 months later. These people were asked which interventions they had used to reduce their symptoms. An analysis was carried out to see whether beliefs and other factors at baseline predicted subsequent use of interventions. RESULTS: There were some major discrepancies between the ranking of interventions as likely to be helpful and the ranking of how frequently they were actually used. Interventions involving mental health professionals were often rated as likely to be helpful, but were rarely used in practice. Other simple, cheap and readily available interventions were used the most frequently, but were not the most likely to be rated as helpful. The most consistent predictors across all interventions used were gender, history of treatment, current symptoms and belief in a particular intervention. Of particular interest was the finding that beliefs in the helpfulness of antidepressants predicted their use. However, beliefs were not predictors of use for all interventions. CONCLUSIONS: Beliefs about the helpfulness of an intervention did not always predict actual use of that intervention, although beliefs did predict use of antidepressants. Therefore, campaigns that change public beliefs about effective treatments may also influence actual use of treatments. Interventions preferred by professionals are not frequently used at present. Most people with anxiety and depression symptoms rely primarily on simple self-help interventions, the effectiveness of which has been little researched.     

The FRIENDS emotional health prevention programme

A universal cognitive behaviour therapy emotional health programme, FRIENDS, was provided in schools by trained school nurses to 106 children aged 9/10. Anxiety and self-esteem were re-assessed in 63 children one year after completing the programme. The significant improvements in emotional health identified 3 months after FRIENDS were maintained 12 month after completing the programme. Of the 9 children identified at baseline as high risk, 6 (67%) had moved into the low risk category by the 12 month follow-up. Of the low risk children, none had become high risk by follow-up. The study conclusions are limited by a small sample size and the absence of a comparison group. They are however consistent with previous studies and suggest that FRIENDS delivered in schools as a universal intervention can have a significant medium term effect upon emotional health.     

Long-term effectiveness and cost of a systematic care program for bipolar disorder

CONTEXT: Despite the availability of efficacious treatments, the long-term course of bipolar disorder is often unfavorable. OBJECTIVE: To test the effectiveness of a multicomponent intervention program to improve the quality of care and long-term outcomes for persons with bipolar disorder. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial with allocation concealment and blinded outcome assessment. SETTING: Mental health clinics of a group-model prepaid health plan. PATIENTS: Of 785 patients in treatment for bipolar disorder who were invited to participate, 509 attended an evaluation appointment, 450 were found eligible to participate, and 441 enrolled in the trial. INTERVENTIONS: Participants were randomly assigned to a multicomponent intervention program or to continued care as usual. Three nurse care managers provided a 2-year systematic intervention program, including the following: a structured group psychoeducational program, monthly telephone monitoring of mood symptoms and medication adherence, feedback to treating mental health providers, facilitation of appropriate follow-up care, and as-needed outreach and crisis intervention. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: In-person blinded research interviews every 3 months assessed mood symptoms using the Longitudinal Interval Follow-up Examination. Health plan administrative records were used to assess the use and cost of mental health services. RESULTS: Intent-to-treat analyses demonstrated that the intervention significantly reduced the mean level of mania symptoms (z = 2.09, P = .04) and the time with significant mania symptoms (19.2 vs 24.7 weeks; F(1) = 6.0, P = .01). There was no significant intervention effect on mean level of depressive symptoms (z = 0.19, P = .85) or time with significant depressive symptoms (47.6 vs 50.7 weeks; F(1) = 0.56, P = .45). Benefits of the intervention were found only in a subgroup of 343 persons with clinically significant mood symptoms at the baseline assessment. The incremental cost (adjusted) of the intervention was 1251 dollars (95% confidence interval, 55-2446 dollars), including approximately 800 dollars for the intervention program services and an approximate 500 dollars increase in the costs of other mental health services. CONCLUSIONS: Population-based systematic care programs can significantly reduce the frequency and severity of mania in bipolar disorder, and cost increases are modest considering the clinical gains. The incorporation of more specific cognitive and behavioral content or more effective medication regimens may be necessary to significantly reduce the symptoms of depression.     

Extending cognitive-behavioral therapy for late-life anxiety to home care: program development and case examples

Data suggesting that cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is efficacious for late-life anxiety are accumulating; however, effectiveness has not been well established. Incorporating CBT for anxiety into home care is needed to facilitate access to evidenced-based treatment for a growing population of community-dwelling, functionally impaired elderly people. In this article, the authors describe the development of a home-based CBT program for late-life anxiety, outlining their experience partnering with a community care management organization. They also describe the CBT protocol and present data form two participants who completed the treatment. The two case examples illustrate multiple barriers to achieving successful treatment outcomes with this population. Future research needs to determine the extent to which adaptations are necessary to optimize the success of CBT for anxiety in a home care setting.     

Clinical effectiveness of a cognitive behavioral group treatment program for anxiety disorders: A benchmarking study

Previous research has established efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for anxiety disorders, yet it has not been widely assessed in routine community clinic practices. Efficacy research sacrifices external validity to achieve maximum internal validity. Recently, effectiveness research has been advocated as more ecologically valid for assessing routine clinical work in community clinics. Furthermore, there is a lack of effectiveness research in group CBT. This study aims to extend existing research on the effectiveness of CBT from individual therapy into group therapy delivery. It aimed also to examine outcome using not only symptom measures, but also measures of related symptoms, cognitions, and life quality and satisfaction. Results from a cohort of patients with various anxiety disorders demonstrated that treatment was effective in reducing anxiety symptoms to an extent comparable with other effectiveness studies. Despite this, only 43% of individuals showed reliable change, and 17% were ‘recovered’ from their anxiety symptoms, and the post-treatment measures were still significantly different from the level of anxiety symptoms observed in the general population.     

Efficacy of a computer-assisted cognitive-behavior therapy program for treating youth with anxiety and co-occurring autism spectrum disorder: Camp Cope-A-Lot

BackgroundIn a crossover design the current study describes the efficacy of a computer-assisted intervention program for youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who also experience co-occurring anxiety.MethodsThe computer-assisted cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) program for treating anxiety, Camp Cope-A-Lot (CCAL) was compared to control intervention, another computer-assisted program, The Social Express (TSE), that does not employ CBT nor is targeted for the treatment of anxiety. TSE is designed to improve social skills in youth with ASD. Participants had a principal anxiety disorder and a current diagnosis of ASD. Participants received 12-sessions of CCAL or 12-sessions of TSE. Outcome measures were obtained at intake, upon completion of the first intervention of the trial and upon completion of the second intervention of the trial.ResultsCCAL was efficacious for treating anxiety. Participants who completed CCAL demonstrated significant and clinical reductions in anxiety when compared to participants who completed TSE. Both interventions, CCAL and TSE, resulted in some limited improvement in social skills.ConclusionsThe current study showed that anxiety symptoms in youth with ASD and co-occurring anxiety disorders can benefit from computer-assisted CBT employing CCAL. This expands previous literature employing computer-assisted CBT interventions in youth, and more specifically, youth with ASD.     

Cognitive-behavioral group treatments in childhood anxiety disorders: the role of parental involvement.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined (1) the effect of a cognitive-behavioral group intervention on anxiety, depression, and coping strategies in school-age children (aged 7-12 years) with Axis I anxiety disorders; and (2) the effect of parental involvement on treatment outcomes. METHOD: Parents and children (N = 62) were randomly assigned to one of three 12-week treatment conditions: parent and child intervention, child-only intervention, and parent-only intervention. Child anxiety, depression, and coping strategies were assessed before and after treatment. RESULTS: All treatment groups reported fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression posttreatment and changes in their use of coping strategies. Children in the parent and child intervention used more active coping strategies posttreatment compared with children in the other 2 treatment conditions. Parents in this treatment condition reported a significantly greater improvement in their children's emotional well-being than parents in the other treatment conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Cognitive-behavioral group interventions reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression in school-age children with anxiety disorders. Concurrent parental involvement enhanced the effect on coping strategies. Further investigation is needed to corroborate the effectiveness of such short-term interventions and the maintenance of treatment effects.     

Strategies for managing symptoms of anxiety

The purpose of this article is to summarize strategies for effectively managing the symptoms of anxiety. The distinction between the cognitive, physiological and behavioral components of fear and anxiety is explained and various treatment targets are outlined. Empirically-supported strategies that are effective in alleviating common symptoms of anxiety are reviewed. These include various forms of psychosocial intervention (i.e., cognitive and behavioral therapies), pharmacotherapy, in addition combined treatment approaches. Expert consensus guidelines, prognostic factors, patient preferences and accessibility issues are discussed with regard to treatment selection in addition to emerging challenges in the field and future research directions.     

Multimodal Residential Treatment for Adolescent Anxiety: Outcome and Associations with Pre-treatment Variables

This study aimed to determine the effect of a multimodal residential treatment program for severe adolescent anxiety, and examine whether treatment outcome was associated with pre-treatment anxiety, comorbid disorders, or participant age or gender. Participants were 70 adolescents (61.4% female, mean age?=?15.4 years) with a primary anxiety disorder who received residential treatment involving cognitive behavioral therapy and medication management. Treatment outcome was assessed both as the change in adolescent-reported anxiety symptoms, and using treatment response criteria. Results indicated a strong effect of the intervention on symptoms of anxiety, depression, and anxiety-related life interference. Most pre-treatment variables were not associated with treatment outcome. However, higher adolescent-reported pre-treatment anxiety was associated with a greater reduction in anxiety at post-treatment, and the presence of a comorbid anxiety disorder was associated with poorer odds of treatment response. Findings indicate that residential treatment is a robust intervention for adolescent anxiety.     

Factor stability of the Schalock and Keith (1993) Quality of Life Questionnaire

In the 1990s, there was a significant change in how governments viewed publicly provided services. In the area of disability services, it has been suggested that providers could demonstrate their effectiveness with reference to the quality of life of their clients. One instrument often used in quality of life research for people with intellectual disabilities is the Quality of Life Questionnaire; however, before this instrument can be used with confidence, the reliability of its scores must be demonstrated. We investigated the stability of the four Quality of Life Questionnaire factors over various populations. Three of the four factors were found to be stable. This raises potential concern over the use of the Quality of Life Questionnaire in assessing service providers' effectiveness.