Group cohesion and alliance predict cognitive-behavioral group treatment outcomes for youth with anxiety disorders.

Knowledge about how to enhance group cognitive behavioral therapy (GCBT) outcomes is needed. In a randomized controlled effectiveness trial, we examined group cohesion (the bond between group members) and the alliance (the client-clinician bond) as predictors of GCBT outcomes. The sample was 88 youth ( age 11.

Anxiety Symptom Trajectories Predict Depression Symptom Trajectories up to Four Years After CBT for Youth Anxiety Disorders.

Long-term data on depression symptoms after cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for youth anxiety disorders are scant. We examined depression symptoms up to four years post CBT for anxiety addressing youth age and gender, family social class, and parent mental health as predictors. The sample comprised 179 youth (M age at pre-treatment = 11.

Behavioral Inhibition and Social Anxiety Disorder as Predictors of Long-Term Outcomes of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Youth Anxiety Disorders.

The temperamental trait behavioral inhibition (BI) is related to the development and maintenance of anxiety, particularly much so to social anxiety disorder. We investigated if BI and social anxiety disorder predicted cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) outcomes for youth anxiety. Youth (N = 179; M = 11.

Patterns of sub-optimal change following CBT for childhood anxiety.

Background: Children and adolescents demonstrate diverse patterns of symptom change and disorder remission following cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for anxiety disorders. To better understand children who respond sub-optimally to CBT, this study investigated youths (N = 1,483) who continued to meet criteria for one or more clinical anxiety diagnosis immediately following treatment or at any point during the 12 months following treatment.

Methods: Data were collected from 10 clinical sites with assessments at pre-and post-treatment and at least once more at 3, 6 or 12-month follow-up.

Comprehensive Health Assessment for Children in Out-of-Home Care: An Exploratory Study of Service Needs and Mental Health in a Norwegian Population.

A comprehensive model for routine multi-disciplinary health assessment for children in out-of-home care was piloted in a Norwegian region. This paper reports on identified service needs and mental disorders among 196 children (0-17 years) receiving the assessment. Cross-sectional data was extracted from assessment reports.

Adherence, Competence, and Alliance as Predictors of Long-term Outcomes of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Youth Anxiety Disorders.

The present study investigated therapist adherence, therapist competence, and patient-therapist alliance as predictors of long-term outcomes of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for anxiety disorders in youth. Potential differential effects for group versus individual CBT, for therapists with or without formal CBT training, and based on youth symptom severity were examined. Videotapes (n = 181) from treatment sessions in a randomized controlled effectiveness trial comprising youth (N = 170, M age = 11.

Prevalence of psychiatric disorders in Norwegian 10-14-year-olds: Results from a cross-sectional study.

Youth mental health problems is the leading cause of disability worldwide and a major public health concern. Prevalence rates are needed for planning preventive interventions and health care services. We here report Norwegian prevalence estimates for youth mental disorders based on findings from the Bergen Child Study cohort.

Parental internalizing symptoms as predictors of anxiety symptoms in clinic-referred children.

Background: Mothers' and fathers' internalizing symptoms may influence children's anxiety symptoms differently.

Objective: To explore the relationship between parental internalizing symptoms and children's anxiety symptoms in a clinical sample of children with anxiety disorders.

Method: The sample was recruited through community mental health clinics for a randomized controlled anxiety treatment trial.

School-based targeted prevention compared to specialist mental health treatment for youth anxiety.

Background: The 'FRIENDS for life' program (FRIENDS) is a 10-session cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) program used for prevention and treatment of youth anxiety. There is discussion about whether FRIENDS is best applied as prevention or as treatment.

Methods: We compared FRIENDS delivered in schools as targeted prevention to a previous specialist mental health clinic trial.

DNA methylation changes in infants between 6 and 52 weeks.

Infants undergo extensive developments during their first year of life. Although the biological mechanisms involved are not yet fully understood, changes in the DNA methylation in mammals are believed to play a key role. This study was designed to investigate changes in infant DNA methylation that occurs between 6 and 52 weeks.

A genome-wide association meta-analysis of prognostic outcomes following cognitive behavioural therapy in individuals with anxiety and depressive disorders.

Major depressive disorder and the anxiety disorders are highly prevalent, disabling and moderately heritable. Depression and anxiety are also highly comorbid and have a strong genetic correlation (r ≈ 1). Cognitive behavioural therapy is a leading evidence-based treatment but has variable outcomes.

Prenatal maternal depressive symptoms and infant DNA methylation: a longitudinal epigenome-wide study.

Prenatal maternal stress increases the risk of offspring developmental and psychological difficulties. The biological mechanisms behind these associations are mostly unknown. One explanation suggests that exposure of the fetus to maternal stress may influence DNA methylation.

The utility of the SCAS-C/P to detect specific anxiety disorders among clinically anxious children.

Questionnaire measures offer a time and cost-effective alternative to full diagnostic assessments for identifying and differentiating between potential anxiety disorders and are commonly used in clinical practice. Little is known, however, about the capacity of questionnaire measures to detect specific anxiety disorders in clinically anxious preadolescent children. This study aimed to establish the ability of the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale (SCAS) subscales to identify children with specific anxiety disorders in a large clinic-referred sample (N = 1,438) of children aged 7 to 12 years.

Measurement Equivalence and Convergent Validity of a Mental Health Rating Scale.

Emotional and behavioral problems among children and adolescents may be studied using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, containing five subscales, based on ratings by parents, teachers, or adolescents themselves. We investigate two measurement issues using data from a longitudinal sample of 8,806 participants aged 7 to 9 years and 11 to 13 years from the Bergen Child Study in Bergen, Norway. First, convergent validity of parent and teacher ratings is studied using a multitrait-multimethod approach.

Predictors of long-term outcome of CBT for youth with anxiety disorders treated in community clinics.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has proven long-term effects in youth with anxiety disorders. However, only a few studies have examined predictors of long-term outcomes of CBT treatment. The present study investigated possible predictors of long-term treatment outcomes in youth with mixed anxiety disorders treated in community mental health clinics.

Cognitive behavior therapy for child and adolescent anxiety disorders: an update on recent evidence.

Purpose Of Review: To present an updated review of recent studies into the effect of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) for anxiety disorders in children and adolescents, ways to increase access to therapy, and predictors and moderators of therapy effect.

Recent Findings: The evidence base of CBT for anxiety disorders in children and adolescents continues to grow, demonstrating short and long-term efficacy and effectiveness. However, compared with active control conditions its effect appear to be modest; and a substantial percentage of youth do not show stable long-term remission.

Do clinical experience, formal cognitive behavioural therapy training, adherence, and competence predict outcome in cognitive behavioural therapy for anxiety disorders in youth?

Objective: The aim was to investigate whether clinical experience, formal cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) training, adherence, and competence predict outcome in CBT for anxiety disorders in youth.

Method: Videotapes (N = 181) from the sessions in a randomized controlled effectiveness trial (Wergeland et al., 2014, Behaviour Research and Therapy, 57, 1-12) comprising youth (N = 182, M age = 11.

Epidemiological study of child and adolescent psychiatric disorders in Lithuania.

Background: From the public health perspective, epidemiological data of child mental health and psychosocial correlates were necessary and very lacking in Lithuanian society that has been undergoing rapid socio-economic change since the past decades. Together with determining the prevalence rates of disorders and assessing the needs for the services, this study has also shifted attention from the highly selective samples of children attending children and adolescent mental health services towards less severe cases of psychopathology as well as different attitudes of parents and teachers. The aim of the first epidemiological study in Lithuania was to identify the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in the community sample of children.

Long-term effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy for youth with anxiety disorders.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has demonstrated favorable long-term outcomes in youth with anxiety disorders in efficacy trials. However, long-term outcomes of CBT delivered in a community setting are uncertain. This study examined the long-term outcomes of individual (ICBT) and group CBT (GCBT) in youth with anxiety disorders treated in community mental health clinics.

A Genome-Wide Test of the Differential Susceptibility Hypothesis Reveals a Genetic Predictor of Differential Response to Psychological Treatments for Child Anxiety Disorders.

Background: The differential susceptibly hypothesis suggests that certain genetic variants moderate the effects of both negative and positive environments on mental health and may therefore be important predictors of response to psychological treatments. Nevertheless, the identification of such variants has so far been limited to preselected candidate genes. In this study we extended the differential susceptibility hypothesis from a candidate gene to a genome-wide approach to test whether a polygenic score of environmental sensitivity predicted response to cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) in children with anxiety disorders.

Genome-wide association study of response to cognitive-behavioural therapy in children with anxiety disorders.

Background: Anxiety disorders are common, and cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) is a first-line treatment. Candidate gene studies have suggested a genetic basis to treatment response, but findings have been inconsistent.

Aims: To perform the first genome-wide association study (GWAS) of psychological treatment response in children with anxiety disorders (n = 980).

Stepped Care Versus Direct Face-to-Face Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Social Anxiety Disorder and Panic Disorder: A Randomized Effectiveness Trial.

The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) stepped care model (psychoeducation, guided Internet treatment, and face-to-face CBT) compared with direct face-to-face (FtF) CBT. Patients with panic disorder or social anxiety disorder were randomized to either stepped care (n=85) or direct FtF CBT (n=88). Recovery was defined as meeting two of the following three criteria: loss of diagnosis, below cut-off for self-reported symptoms, and functional improvement.

Working alliance and competence as predictors of outcome in cognitive behavioral therapy for social anxiety and panic disorder in adults.

Objective: The research on the association between the working alliance and therapist competence/adherence and outcome from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is limited and characterized by inconclusive findings. This study investigates the working alliance and competence/adherence as predictors of outcome of CBT for social anxiety disorder (SAD) and panic disorder (PD).

Method: Eighty-two clinically referred patients (58.

Therapist-youth agreement on alliance change predicts long-term outcome in CBT for anxiety disorders.

Background: In individual cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT) for youth anxiety disorders, it is unclear whether, and from whose perspective, the alliance predicts outcome. We examined whether youth- and therapist-rated alliance, including level of youth-therapist alliance agreement, predicted outcome in a randomized controlled trial.

Methods: Youth (N = 91, M age = 11.