Bibliotherapy for children with anxiety disorders using written materials for parents: A randomized controlled trial.
Abstract
The current trial examined the value of modifying empirically validated treatment for childhood anxiety for application via written materials for parents of anxious children. Two hundred sixty-seven clinically anxious children ages 6-12 years and their parents were randomly allocated to standard group treatment, waitlist, or a bibliotherapy version of treatment for childhood anxiety. In general, parent bibliotherapy demonstrated benefit for children relative to waitlist but was not as efficacious as standard group treatment. Relative to waitlist, use of written materials for parents with no therapist contact resulted in around 15% more children being free of an anxiety disorder diagnosis after 12 and 24 weeks. These results have implications for the dissemination and efficient delivery of empirically validated treatment for childhood anxiety.
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The result that more families tended to drop out of treatment in the parent-only group compared with the CBT with parents group is similar to those of other studies investigating internet-based delivery and bibliotherapy as alternative modes of CBT treatment [35-37].
“This result is similar to those of other studies investigating internet-based delivery and bibliotherapy as alternative modes of CBT treatment [35–37].”
Rapee et al. conducted the first study evaluating bibliotherapy with anxiety-disordered children and demonstrated the bibliotherapy benefit for anxiety in children.
“Rapee et al33 conducted the first study evaluating bibliotherapy with anxiety-disordered children and demonstrated the bibliotherapy benefit for anxiety in children.”
Bibliotherapy programs for children can make use of a possible motivating factor that exists in the children's daily environment by using the parents' desire for their children to change.
“In this situation, bibliotherapy programs for children can make use of a possible motivating factor that exists in the children’s daily environment by using the parents’ desire for their children to change.33,49”
Rapee et al conducted the first study evaluating Helping Your Anxious Child: A Step-by-Step Guide with anxiety-disordered children.
“Rapee et al33 conducted the first study evaluating Helping Your Anxious Child: A Step-by-Step Guide with anxiety-disordered children.”
Helping Your Anxious Child: A Step-by-Step Guide describes anxiety management skills and ways of introducing them to and implementing them with children; it was used in two included studies.
“Helping Your Anxious Child: A Step-by-Step Guide describes anxiety management skills and ways of introducing them to and implementing them with children; it was used in two included studies.33,44”
Bibliotherapy is not suitable for some people who lack cognitive capacity and self-discipline.
“These findings highlight an important caveat to the use of bibliotherapy that bibliotherapy is not suitable for some people who lack cognitive capacity and self-discipline.33”
Children live under the care and guidance of an adult, making them especially amenable to bibliotherapy led by an adult, most commonly a parent.
“Children live under the care and guidance of an adult, making them especially amenable to bibliotherapy led by an adult, most commonly a parent.33”
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References 43 · Cited by 228
- Authors
- Rapee, R. M., Abbott, M. J., & Lyneham, H. J.
- Affiliations
- Macquarie University (AU)
- Venue
- Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology
- Published
- 2006
- Volume
- 74
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 436-444
- ISSN
- 0022-006X (ISSN-L)
- 1939-2117
- OpenAlex
- W2081018594
- Cited by
- 228
- References
- 43
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 17 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 18 · 2012: 18
- FWCI
- 12.90
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Australian Rotary Health Research Fund
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Therapy and Development
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Keywords
- bibliotherapy, childhood anxiety disorders, parent-mediated intervention, group therapy, treatment efficacy
- MeSH terms
- Anxiety Disorders, Bibliotherapy, Child, Female, Humans, Male, Parent-Child Relations, Parents, Severity of Illness Index, Teaching Materials
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