Evaluation of therapist-supported parent-implemented CBT for anxiety disorders in rural children

Behav Res Ther. 2006 Sep;44(9):1287-300. doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2005.09.009. Epub 2005 Nov 28.

Abstract

Supplementing bibliotherapy with therapist-client communication has been shown to be an effective way of providing services to under-resourced and isolated communities. The current study examined the efficacy of supplementing bibliotherapy for child anxiety disorders with therapist-initiated telephone or email sessions, or with client-initiated contact in a randomised trial using a waitlist control. Participants were 100 anxiety-disordered children and their parents from rural and remote communities. All treatment conditions resulted in improvement on self-report measures and clinician rated severity. Telephone sessions produced superior outcomes with 79% of children being anxiety disorder free post-treatment compared with 33% of email and 31% of client-initiated participants. The results suggest that therapist supplemented bibliotherapy could provide an efficacious treatment option for families isolated from traditional treatment services.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anxiety Disorders / diagnosis
  • Anxiety Disorders / therapy*
  • Bibliotherapy / methods*
  • Child
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / methods*
  • Female
  • Home Care Services / organization & administration
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Parents
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Remote Consultation / methods
  • Rural Health*
  • Socioeconomic Factors