The effectiveness of psychological therapies for anxiety disorders in adolescents: a meta-analysis
The effectiveness of psychological therapies for anxiety disorders in adolescents: a meta-analysis
Anxiety disorders are common in adolescence but outcomes for adolescents are unclear and we do not know what factors moderate treatment outcome for this age group. We conducted meta-analyses to establish the effectiveness of psychological therapies for adolescent anxiety disorders in (i) reducing anxiety disorder symptoms, and (ii) remission from the primary anxiety disorder, compared with controls, and examine potential moderators of treatment effects. The protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42018091744). Electronic databases (Web of Science, MEDLINE, Psycinfo, EMBASE) were searched from January 1990 to December 2019. 2511 articles were reviewed, those meeting strict criteria were included. Random effects meta-analyses were conducted. Analyses of symptom severity outcomes comprised sixteen studies (CBT k = 15, non-CBT k = 1; n = 766 adolescents), and analyses of diagnostic remission outcomes comprised nine (CBT k = 9; n = 563 adolescents). Post-treatment, those receiving treatment were significantly more likely to experience reduced symptom severity (SMD = 0.454, 95% CI 0.22–0.69) and remission from the primary anxiety disorder than controls (RR = 7.94, 95% CI 3.19–12.7) (36% treatment vs. 9% controls in remission). None of the moderators analysed were statistically significant. Psychological therapies targeting anxiety disorders in adolescents are more effective than controls. However, with only just over a third in remission post-treatment, there is a clear need to develop more effective treatments for adolescents, evaluated through high-quality randomised controlled trials incorporating active controls and follow-up data.
Adolescent, Anxiety, Meta-analysis, Psychological treatment
765-782
Baker, Holly
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Lawrence, Peter
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Karalus, Jessica
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Creswell, Cathy
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Waite, Polly
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December 2021
Baker, Holly
f19e25b0-44bd-403e-85a5-f8be7c6f10d4
Lawrence, Peter
0d45e107-38ef-4932-aec1-504573de01ef
Karalus, Jessica
4e6282b3-4936-487f-91d5-34ead84fd228
Creswell, Cathy
62d7d30e-b718-4985-87b1-33ed4360a969
Waite, Polly
a4b1d85d-89a3-434f-95dd-384bcd667d95
Baker, Holly, Lawrence, Peter, Karalus, Jessica, Creswell, Cathy and Waite, Polly
(2021)
The effectiveness of psychological therapies for anxiety disorders in adolescents: a meta-analysis.
Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 24 (4), .
(doi:10.1007/s10567-021-00364-2).
Abstract
Anxiety disorders are common in adolescence but outcomes for adolescents are unclear and we do not know what factors moderate treatment outcome for this age group. We conducted meta-analyses to establish the effectiveness of psychological therapies for adolescent anxiety disorders in (i) reducing anxiety disorder symptoms, and (ii) remission from the primary anxiety disorder, compared with controls, and examine potential moderators of treatment effects. The protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42018091744). Electronic databases (Web of Science, MEDLINE, Psycinfo, EMBASE) were searched from January 1990 to December 2019. 2511 articles were reviewed, those meeting strict criteria were included. Random effects meta-analyses were conducted. Analyses of symptom severity outcomes comprised sixteen studies (CBT k = 15, non-CBT k = 1; n = 766 adolescents), and analyses of diagnostic remission outcomes comprised nine (CBT k = 9; n = 563 adolescents). Post-treatment, those receiving treatment were significantly more likely to experience reduced symptom severity (SMD = 0.454, 95% CI 0.22–0.69) and remission from the primary anxiety disorder than controls (RR = 7.94, 95% CI 3.19–12.7) (36% treatment vs. 9% controls in remission). None of the moderators analysed were statistically significant. Psychological therapies targeting anxiety disorders in adolescents are more effective than controls. However, with only just over a third in remission post-treatment, there is a clear need to develop more effective treatments for adolescents, evaluated through high-quality randomised controlled trials incorporating active controls and follow-up data.
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More information
Accepted/In Press date: 9 July 2021
Published date: December 2021
Additional Information:
Funding Information:
CC was supported by an NIHR Research Professorship (NIHR-RP-2014-04-018) and is supported by the Oxford and Thames Valley NIHR Applied Research Collaboration. PW is supported by an NIHR Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (PDF-2016-09-092). HB is supported by a University of Reading studentship (GS17-001).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021, The Author(s).
Keywords:
Adolescent, Anxiety, Meta-analysis, Psychological treatment
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 450329
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/450329
ISSN: 1096-4037
PURE UUID: 838e7cd2-db77-43f0-b287-547d6a9ea003
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Date deposited: 23 Jul 2021 16:30
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 03:34
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Contributors
Author:
Holly Baker
Author:
Jessica Karalus
Author:
Cathy Creswell
Author:
Polly Waite
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