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Cited by 483Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional DevelopmentPsychotherapy Techniques and Applications

Effects of psychotherapy for anxiety in children and adolescents: A meta-analytic review

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Reynolds, Shirley, Wilson, Charlotte, Austin, Joanne, Hooper, Lee·2012·Clinical Psychology Review
DOI 10.1016/j.cpr.2012.01.005
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Abstract

This paper provides a comprehensive quantitative review of high quality randomized controlled trials of psychological therapies for anxiety disorders in children and young people. Using a systematic search for randomized controlled trials which included a control condition and reported data suitable for meta-analysis, 55 studies were included. Eligible studies were rated for methodological quality and outcome data were extracted and analyzed using standard methods. Trial quality was variable, many studies were underpowered and adverse effects were rarely assessed; however, quality ratings were higher for more recently published studies. Most trials evaluated cognitive behavior therapy or behavior therapy and most recruited both children and adolescents. Psychological therapy for anxiety in children and young people was moderately effective overall, but effect sizes were small to medium when psychological therapy was compared to an active control condition. The effect size for non-CBT interventions was not significant. Parental involvement in therapy was not associated with differential effectiveness. Treatment targeted at specific anxiety disorders, individual psychotherapy, and psychotherapy with older children and adolescents had effect sizes which were larger than effect sizes for treatments targeting a range of anxiety disorders, group psychotherapy, and psychotherapy with younger children. Few studies included an effective follow-up. Future studies should follow CONSORT reporting standards, be adequately powered, and assess follow-up. Research trials are unlikely to address all important clinical questions around treatment delivery. Thus, careful assessment and formulation will remain an essential part of successful psychological treatment for anxiety in children and young people.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.cpr.2012.01.005

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  • Meta-analyses show that the vast majority of research supports CBT as the most effective treatment for adolescent anxiety and depression.

    “However, meta-analyses of individual therapy methods for children and adolescents clearly show that the “vast majority” (Chorpita et al. 2011, p. 159) of research supports Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as the most effective treatment for adolescent anxiety and depression”

    From Mindfulness Interventions to Reduce Impact of Interparental Conflict on Adolescents. (2020) · cites this paper as Reynolds et al. 2012

    The review reports that the vast majority of its trials assessed CBT for anxiety and that CBT was effective for children and adolescents compared with passive or active controls (accepted manuscript; page unavailable). It does not assess depression, and the predominance of CBT trials does not establish that CBT is the most effective treatment relative to other therapies. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Anxiety Help for Adolescents is an evidence-based transdiagnostic internet treatment based on ACT and CBT interventions to treat anxiety in young people.

    “Anxiety Help for Adolescents is an evidence-based transdiagnostic internet treatment based on ACT and CBT interventions to treat anxiety in young people (Fang & Ding, 2020; Gloster et al., 2020; Reynolds et al., 2012).”

    From Effectiveness of and processes related to internet-delivered acceptance and commitment therapy for adolescents with anxiety disorders: a randomized controlled trial (2023) · cites this paper as Reynolds et al., 2012

    The discussion (page not available in our copy) reports that CBT is effective for anxiety in children and adolescents, supporting the general evidence-based CBT component. It does not identify Anxiety Help for Adolescents or establish that this particular internet treatment is transdiagnostic, uses ACT, or is itself evidence-based. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • CBT with parents has been demonstrated to be effective for treating children and adolescents with anxiety.

    “As one type of CBT used with children and adolescents, CBT with parents has been demonstrated to be effective for treating children and adolescents with anxiety [5, 11, 12].”

    From Efficacy and acceptability of parent-only group cognitive behavioral intervention for treatment of anxiety disorder in children and adolescents: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (2021) · cites this paper as [11]

  • Most studies of psychotherapy effectiveness include both children and adolescents in combined samples, with age relating to better treatment outcomes.

    “Most studies of psychotherapy effectiveness include both children and adolescents in combined samples, with age relating to better treatment outcomes [102].”

    From Positive and Negative Emotion Regulation in Adolescence: Links to Anxiety and Depression (2019) · cites this paper as [102]

  • Past reviews/meta-analyses have examined only prevention or only treatment of childhood anxiety.

    “Past reviews/meta-analyses have examined only prevention14–16 or only treatment.17–21”

    From Six decades of preventing and treating childhood anxiety disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis to inform policy and practice (2019) · cites this paper as [17]

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Research works printed but not linked: 8

  1. Dugas, M. J., & Koerner, N. (2005). The cognitive-behavioral treatment for generalized anxiety disorder: Current status and future directions. Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy: An International Quarterly, 19, 61-81.
  2. Foa, E. B., Leibowitz, M. R., Kozak, M. J., Davies, S., Campeas, R., Franklin, M. E., et al. (2005). Randomized, placebo-controlled trial of exposure and response prevention, clomipramine, and their combination in the treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder. American Journal of Psychiatry, 162, 151-161.
  3. Reinblatt, S. P., & Riddle, M. A. (2007). The pharmacological management of childhood anxiety disorders: a review. Psychopharmacology, 191, 67-86.
  4. Salkovskis, P. M. & Clark, D. M. (1991). Treatment of panic attacks using cognitive therapy without exposure or breathing retraining. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 29(2), 161-166.
  5. Salkovskis, P. M., & Kirk, J. (1997). Obsessive-compulsive disorder. In D. M. Clark & C. G. Fairburn (Eds.), Science and practice of cognitive behaviour therapy (pp. 179-208). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  6. Spielberger, C.D. (1973) Manual for the state-trait anxiety inventory for children. Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.
  7. Stallard, P. (2006). Psychological interventions for post-traumatic reactions in young people: A review of randomized controlled trials. Clinical Psychology Review, 26, 895-911.
  8. Wells, A. (1997). Cognitive therapy of anxiety disorders: A practice manual and conceptual guide. Chichester, United Kingdom: Wiley.

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Authors
Reynolds, S., Wilson, C., Austin, J., & Hooper, L.
Affiliations
University of East Anglia (GB)
Corresponding author
Reynolds, Shirley
ORCID
Venue
Clinical Psychology Review
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2012-06
Volume
32
Issue
4
Pages
251-262
ISSN
0272-7358 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.cpr.2012.01.005
OpenAlex
W2081762848
Cited by
483
References
103
Citations by year
2026: 11 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 27 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 45 · 2021: 34 · 2020: 49 · 2019: 47 · 2018: 46 · 2017: 38 · 2016: 29 · 2015: 51 · 2014: 39 · 2013: 27 · 2012: 5
FWCI
5.71
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Clinical Psychology Review (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • UEA Digital Repository (University of East Anglia) (acceptedVersion)
  • CentAUR (University of Reading) (acceptedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
Keywords
anxiety disorders, children, adolescents, psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, behavior therapy, treatment effectiveness, parental involvement, group therapy, individual psychotherapy, treatment follow-up, trial quality
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Anxiety, Anxiety Disorders, Child, Female, Humans, Male, Psychotherapy, Psychotherapy, Group, Research Design, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

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