Disorders - Anxiety Disorders
Calear, A. L., Christensen, H., Brewer, J., Mackinnon, A., Griffiths, K. M.
The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of delivering an online anxiety prevention program in schools, and to assess the effectiveness of the intervention in reducing symptoms of anxiety. Three schools located in South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory were recruited to participate in the trial, with classes randomly allocated to the intervention or wait-list control condition. All participants (N = 225) were invited to complete a pre-intervention, post-intervention and 3-month follow-up questionnaire. Participants in the intervention condition completed the online e-couch Anxiety and Worry program during one class period a week for six weeks. No significant differences were found between the intervention and control conditions at post-intervention or 3-month follow-up for generalised anxiety (Cohen's d = - 0.09-0.08), social anxiety (d = 0.09 & - 0.26), anxiety sensitivity (d = 0.19 & - 0.15), depressive symptoms (d = 0.01 & 0.08) or mental wellbeing (d = 0.17 & 0.30). Online anxiety prevention programs are acceptable and can be feasibly delivered in schools. Although not significant, the sizes of some of the effects obtained in this pilot trial are consistent with earlier studies, and warrant further investigation in a larger trial. Copyright © 2016 The Authors
Internet Interventions, 6 : 1-5
- Year: 2016
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Universal prevention
-
Treatment and intervention: Complementary & Alternative Interventions (CAM)
, Service Delivery & Improvement, Psychological Interventions (any)
, Cognitive & behavioural therapies (CBT)
, Psychoeducation, Self-help
, Physical activity, exercise, Relaxation
Bastounis, A., Callaghan, P., Banerjee, A., Michail, M.
Mental health problems in children can be precursors of psychosocial problems in adulthood. The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of the universal application of a resilience intervention (PRP and derivatives), which has been proposed for large scale roll-out. Electronic databases were searched for published randomized controlled trials of PRP and derivatives to prevent depression and anxiety and improve explanatory style in students aged 8-17 years. Studies were meta-analysed and effect sizes with confidence intervals were calculated. The Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies of the Effective Public Health Practice Project was used to determine the confidence in the effect estimates. Nine trials from Australia, the Netherlands and USA met the inclusion criteria. No evidence of PRP in reducing depression or anxiety and improving explanatory style was found. The large scale roll-out of PRP cannot be recommended. The content and structure of universal PRP should be re-considered.
Copyright © 2016 The Foundation for Professionals in Services for Adolescents. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Journal of Adolescence, 52 : 37-48
- Year: 2016
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Depressive Disorders
- Type: Systematic reviews
-
Stage: Universal prevention
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Cognitive & behavioural therapies (CBT)
, Other Psychological Interventions
Bunge, E. L., Dickter, B., Jones, M. K., Alie, G., Spear, A., Perales, R.
The dominant model of delivering psychological interventions is face-to-face (F2F) in oneto- one psychotherapy. Behavioral Intervention Technologies (BITs) may have the capacity to expand delivery models and/or increase the outcomes of therapy. This article is a systematic review of the available literature on BITs for children and adolescents with DSM-5 mental health diagnoses. All articles on EBSCOhost published between 1st January 2000 and 31st December 2014 referencing terms related to youth, BITs, and therapy were collected for analysis (n=7179). After inclusion/exclusion criteria were applied, 53 articles were included in the review, discussing BIT interventions for Anxiety, Depression, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Conduct Disorder, and Oppositional Defiant Disorder. The review found general support for BITs as interventions for child and adolescent disorders. Limitations of the current research and suggestions for future directions are discussed. Copyright © 2016 Bentham Science Publishers.
Current Psychiatry Reviews, 12(1) : 14-28
- Year: 2016
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Depressive Disorders
- Type: Systematic reviews
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
, Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Service Delivery & Improvement, Psychological Interventions (any)
, Cognitive & behavioural therapies (CBT)
, Exposure therapy, Exposure and response prevention, Attention/cognitive bias modification
, Self-help
, Technology, interventions delivered using technology (e.g. online, SMS)
Cheng, F. K.
Childhood mental health problems not only incur a financial burden but more importantly damages individual and family well-being, which compels mental care practitioners to search for solutions, among which meditation is a more economical method. This integrative review investigates the effectiveness of meditation on psychological problems for adolescents under age of 20 through different types of meditation, though mainly mindfulness-based modes. The 36 reviewed publications include quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods research, conducted in North America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific region, related to developmental disabilities, emotional problems, and mental illnesses. Outcomes indicate a decrease in self-harm thoughts, disruptive behaviour, stress, anxiety, impulsivity, and psychological distress; and improvements in self-control, quality of sleep, emotional regulation, executive function, anger management, and social competence, resulting in better academic performance, quality of life, mental wellness, and child-parent relationships. This review suggests the integration of meditation into physical activities, and music and art therapies, as well as randomised controlled trials to examine such synthesis of these disciplines. In conclusion, meditation is a potential curative and preventive measure, both low cost and non-intrusive, for the promotion of adolescent mental wellness. This sheds light on nurses who look after children with mental health. Copyright © 2016 The Author.
International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences, 4 : 7-19
- Year: 2016
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Depressive Disorders, Non-suicidal self-harm behaviours
, Suicide or self-harm behaviours (excluding non-suicidal self-harm)
- Type: Systematic reviews
-
Stage: Universal prevention
, At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
, Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Complementary & Alternative Interventions (CAM)
, Psychological Interventions (any)
, Mindfulness based therapy, Meditation
Tolnai, N., Szabó, Z., Koteles, F., Szabo, A.
Physiology & behavior, 163 : 211-218
- Year: 2016
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Depressive Disorders
- Type: Controlled clinical trials
-
Stage: Universal prevention
-
Treatment and intervention: Complementary & Alternative Interventions (CAM)
, Physical activity, exercise
Burckhardt, R., Manicavasagar, V., Batterham, P. J., Hadzi-Pavlovic, D.
To date, most early intervention programs have been based on emotion regulation strategies that address dysfunctional cognitive appraisals, problem-solving skills, and rumination. Another emotion regulation strategy, 'acceptance' training, has largely been overlooked. To examine the efficacy of this strategy, a school-based mental health program combining positive psychology with acceptance and commitment therapy (Strong Minds) was evaluated in a randomized controlled trial with a sample of 267 Year 10 and 11 high-school students in Sydney, Australia. Mixed models for repeated measures examined whether the program led to reductions in symptoms amongst students who commenced the program with high depression, anxiety, and stress scores, and increased wellbeing scores amongst all students. Results demonstrated that compared to controls, participants in the Strong Minds condition with elevated symptom scores (n=63) reported significant reductions in depression (p=.047), stress (p=.01), and composite depression/anxiety symptoms (p=.02) with medium to strong effect sizes (Cohen's d=0.53, 0.74, and 0.57, respectively). Increased wellbeing (p=.03) in the total sample and decreased anxiety scores (p=.048) for students with elevated symptoms were significant for Year 10 students with medium effect sizes (Cohen's d=0.43 and 0.54, respectively). This study tentatively suggests that including the emotion regulation strategy of acceptance in early intervention programs may be effective in reducing symptoms and improving wellbeing in high school students. Further research to investigate the generalizability of these findings is warranted. Copyright © 2016 Society for the Study of School Psychology. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Journal of School Psychology, 57 : 41-52
- Year: 2016
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Depressive Disorders
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Universal prevention
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Acceptance & commitment therapy (ACT)
, Positive psychology
Ebesutani, C. K., Helmi, K., Fierstein, M., Taghizadeh, M. E., Chorpita, B. F.
This study examined the effectiveness of two variations of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT)-modular CBT and cognitive-behavioral hypnotherapy-in reducing anxiety in Iranian youth. In Study 1, the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS) and Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale (RCMAS) were translated into Persian and we examined the psychometric properties of their scores using 711 Iranian students. The RCADS and RCMAS anxiety scores evidenced good reliability, validity, and a well-fitting factor structure. In Study 2, we conducted a pilot study using a separate sample of 32 Iranian elementary students with clinically elevated anxiety to examine the effectiveness of two CBT treatment variants. Participants were randomized to one of three groups: modular CBT, cognitive-behavioral hypnotherapy, or a waitlist-control group. Results showed that both modular CBT and cognitive-behavioral hypnotherapy significantly reduced students' anxiety relative to waitlist. Depression symptoms also significantly reduced following both anxiety treatments. Implications regarding the effectiveness of CBT with diverse content across different settings and cultures are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved)
International Journal of Cognitive Therapy, 9(1) : 13-37
- Year: 2016
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Complementary & Alternative Interventions (CAM)
, Service Delivery & Improvement, Psychological Interventions (any)
, Cognitive & behavioural therapies (CBT)
, Other complementary & alternative interventions
, Other service delivery and improvement interventions
Scholten, H., Malmberg, M., Lobel, A., Engels, R. C. M. E., Granic, I.
Adolescent anxiety is debilitating, the most frequently diagnosed adolescent mental health problem, and leads to substantial long-term problems. A randomized controlled trial (n = 138) was conducted to test the effectiveness of a biofeedback video game (Dojo) for adolescents with elevated levels of anxiety. Adolescents (11-15 years old) were randomly assigned to play Dojo or a control game (Rayman 2: The Great Escape). Initial screening for anxiety was done on 1,347 adolescents in five high schools; only adolescents who scored above the "at-risk" cut-off on the Spence Children Anxiety Survey were eligible. Adolescents' anxiety levels were assessed at pre-test, post-test, and at three month follow-up to examine the extent to which playing Dojo decreased adolescents' anxiety. The present study revealed equal improvements in anxiety symptoms in both conditions at follow-up and no differences between Dojo and the closely matched control game condition. Latent growth curve models did reveal a steeper decrease of personalized anxiety symptoms (not of total anxiety symptoms) in the Dojo condition compared to the control condition. Moderation analyses did not show any differences in outcomes between boys and girls nor did age differentiate outcomes. The present results are of importance for prevention science, as this was the first full-scale randomized controlled trial testing indicated prevention effects of a video game aimed at reducing anxiety. Future research should carefully consider the choice of control condition and outcome measurements, address the potentially high impact of participants' expectations, and take critical design issues into consideration, such as individualversus group-based intervention and contamination issues. Copyright © 2016 Scholten et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
PLoS ONE, 11 (1) (no pagination)(e0147763) :
- Year: 2016
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Complementary & Alternative Interventions (CAM)
, Service Delivery & Improvement, Psychological Interventions (any)
, Other Psychological Interventions, Biofeedback, neurofeedback, audio/video feedback, Meditation
, Relaxation
, Technology, interventions delivered using technology (e.g. online, SMS)
Garber, J., Brunwasser, S. M., Zerr, A. A., Schwartz, K. T., Sova, K., Weersing, V.
Anxiety and depression are highly comorbid and share several common etiological processes. Therefore, it may be more efficient to develop interventions that treat or prevent these problems together rather than as separate entities. The present meta-analytic review examined whether interventions for children and adolescents that explicitly targeted either anxiety or depression showed treatment specificity or also impacted the other outcome (i.e. cross-over effects). We addressed this question both within the same type of study (i.e. treatment, prevention) and across study types. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that assessed both constructs with dimensional measures were included in this review. For treatment studies, RCTs targeting anxiety (n = 18) showed significant effects on both anxious and depressive symptoms, although more strongly on anxiety than depression; similarly, RCTs treating depression (n = 9) yielded significant effects on both depressive and anxious symptoms, but stronger effects on depression than anxiety. Thus, there were cross-over effects in treatments purportedly targeting either anxiety or depression, and also treatment specificity, such that larger effects were seen for the target problem at which the treatment was aimed. Anxiety prevention studies (n = 14) significantly affected anxious, but not depressive symptoms, indicating no cross-over effect of anxiety prevention trials on depression. For depression prevention studies (n = 15), the effects were not significant for either depressive or anxiety symptoms, although the effect was significantly larger for depressive than for anxious symptoms. Post-hoc analyses revealed that the effect on depressive symptoms was significant in depression preventions trials of targeted but not universal samples. Implications for transdiagnostic interventions are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)
Depression and Anxiety, 33(10) : 939-959
- Year: 2016
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Depressive Disorders
- Type: Systematic reviews
-
Stage: Universal prevention
, At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
, Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
Sabino, A. D. V., Chagas, M. H. N., Osorio, F. L.
Deficits in recognition of facial expressions of emotion (RFEE) play a central role in the manifestation of anxiety disorders (AD). We systematically reviewed the literature to determine effects of drugs used in AD treatment on RFEE, based on outcomes of accuracy rate, reaction time, and intensity. Electronic databases, including Pubmed, PsycINFO, and Scielo, were used without time constraints. Twenty-six clinical/experimental studies on healthy subjects, focusing on 11 drugs, published in English, Portuguese, and Spanish, were selected. We found that increased recognition of happiness was associated with acute use of citalopram, fluoxetine, duloxetine, and reboxetine. Increased and decreased recognition of negative emotions were associated with the use of selective serotonin and/or norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, respectively. Benzodiazepine favored recognition of negative emotions. Differences in reaction time were rarely observed. Stimuli with distinct emotion intensities produced similar effects. Specific changes occurred in RFEE depending on the drug, its administration route and dose, and emotion valence. Evidences indicate significant effects on emotional processing relevant to clinical practice, particularly in treating patients with emotional disorders.
Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 71 : 802-809
- Year: 2016
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any)
- Type: Systematic reviews
-
Stage: Universal prevention
-
Treatment and intervention: Biological Interventions (any)
Arendt, K., Thastum, M., Hougaard, E.
Objective: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of a Danish version of the Cool Kids program, a generic manualized group cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) program for anxiety disorders among children and adolescents. Method: Children and adolescents (age 7-16) with a primary anxiety disorder diagnosis (n=109) were randomly allocated to group CBT ora wait-list (WL) control condition at a Danish university clinic. Results: Results showed that the Danish version of the Cool Kids program was efficacious with 48.2% free of all anxiety diagnoses at post-treatment, compared with 5.7% in the WL condition, and large effect sizes on self-report measures of child anxiety symptoms rated by child, mother, and father (etap2 range=0.18-0.24). Children and adolescents improved further from post-treatment to 3-month follow-up, and this improvement was maintained at 12-month follow-up. Participants with a primary diagnosis of social phobia (SoP) showed less improvement compared with other anxiety diagnoses. Conclusion: The study contributes to the evidence base for the Cool Kids program, previously only evaluated by its developers in Australia. Generic group CBT programs may not be the most appropriate treatment for children and adolescents with primary SoP. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons A/S.
Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 133(2) : 109-121
- Year: 2016
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Cognitive & behavioural therapies (CBT)
Aras, D., Ewert, A. W.
Regular physical activity can be an efficient method for prevention for anxiety. The purpose of the study is to examine the effects of 8 weeks of sport rock climbing (SRC) training on anxiety in healthy sedentary adults. A total number of nineteen students participated in this study voluntarily composing of a control group (CG, n=10, age 21.90 +/- 1.66 years, height 168.50 +/- 4.40 cm, weight 61.18 +/- 7.08 kg) and an experimental group (EG, n=9, age 21.11 +/- 2.31 years, height 167.33 +/- 6.44 cm, weight 59.31 +/- 8.39 kg). After the EG had been taught basic climbing and rope techniques, body composition and aerobic power measurements were taken for both groups. The EG engaged in climbing training by using a top-rope method for 60 minutes a day with an intensity level of 70 % of HR reserve, three days a week for eight weeks. The CG did not engage in any systematic physical activity program during the study. The Competitive Sport Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2) was given to participants twice. The EG completed the Inventory 20 minutes before the first and the last climbing trial. The CG completed the Inventories on first and last day of 8 weeks period. The results indicated significant changes in all CSAI-2 results for EG, including cognitive (p_=_0.002) and somatic anxiety (p_=_0.032) reduced, self-confidence (p_=_0.001) increased. This current study is one of the first research efforts examining the psychological effects of eight weeks SRC training. Results demonstrated that eight weeks of SRC training significantly reduces cognitive and somatic anxiety and increases self-confidence. In addition to the psychological effects, eight weeks of SRC training also improved the VO2max of participants. This study suggests that SRC can be useful as a regular physical activity in controlling and improving anxiety in the study sample.
Acta Medica Mediterranea, 32(1) : 223-230
- Year: 2016
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any)
- Type: Controlled clinical trials
-
Stage: Universal prevention
-
Treatment and intervention: Complementary & Alternative Interventions (CAM)
, Physical activity, exercise