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Cited by 20Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional DevelopmentPsychological Treatments and Assessments

Comparison of Transdiagnostic Treatment and Specialized Social Anxiety Treatment for Children and Adolescents With Social Anxiety Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial

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Rapee, Ronald M., McLellan, Lauren F., Carl, Talia, Trompeter, Nora, Hudson, Jennifer L., Jones, Michael P., Wuthrich, Viviana M.·2023·Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
DOI 10.1016/j.jaac.2022.08.003
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Abstract

Objective Pediatric social anxiety disorder consistently shows the poorest treatment response of all anxiety disorders. The current study compared a generic cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) treatment for pediatric anxiety against a modified (social anxiety) treatment that incorporated specific components to target theoretically important maintaining processes. Method A total of 200 children and adolescents (mean age = 9.5 years, SD = 2.2 years; 47% boys) diagnosed with social anxiety disorder as either their principal or additional disorder were randomly allocated to either the generic or the modified treatment. Both treatments were based on a manualized, empirically validated program (Cool Kids) and comprised 10 sessions over 12 weeks. Assessments comprised structured diagnostic interview and parent and youth reports, and covered diagnoses, symptoms, life impairment, and assessment of maintaining processes at posttreatment and 6-month follow-up. Results The treatments did not differ significantly on the primary outcome (remission of social anxiety disorder) at either posttreatment (remission in generic = 41%; modified = 44%) or follow-up (remission in generic = 51%; modified = 69%), although the latter approached significance (p = .08). They also did not differ at either time point on most secondary measures of outcome. The only maintaining process that changed more under modified treatment was attention to the current task. Conclusion Despite some positive hints in the data, there was little evidence that the modified intervention significantly improved treatment of pediatric social anxiety disorder, despite incorporating strategies to address putative maintaining mechanisms. The similar improvement between treatments on most maintaining processes suggests that new and innovative strategies may be needed to better target these processes. Clinical trial registration information Efficacy of Cognitive Behavioural Treatment for Socially Anxious Youth; https://www.anzctr.org.au/; 12616001065482.

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Rapee, R. M., McLellan, L. F., Carl, T., Trompeter, N., Hudson, J. L., Jones, M. P., & Wuthrich, V. M.
Affiliations
  • Macquarie University (AU)
  • Black Dog Institute (AU)
Corresponding author
Rapee, Ronald M.
ORCID
Venue
Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2023-06
Volume
62
Issue
6
Pages
646-655
ISSN
0890-8567 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.jaac.2022.08.003
OpenAlex
W4292820187
Cited by
20
References
11
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 1
FWCI
4.15
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion)
Funders
National Health and Medical Research Council (1103611, 12616001065482)
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 › Psychological Treatments and Assessments
Keywords
transdiagnostic treatment, cognitive behavioral therapy, treatment remission, children and adolescents
MeSH terms
Phobia, Social, Adolescent, Anxiety, Anxiety Disorders, Child, Female, Humans, Male, Parents, Treatment Outcome

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