Long-term Outcomes of Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Youth with Anxiety (1 CE)

Number of Credits: 1

This course is for: Clinical Psychologists, Counselors, and Marriage & Family Therapists

Course By: Ken Springer, PhD

Content By: Kodal, A., Fjermestad, K. W., Bjelland, I., Gjestad, R., Öst, L.,  Bjaastad, J. F., Haugland, B. S. M., Havik, O. E., Heiervang, E. R., & Wergeland, G. J. H. (2018). Predictors of long-term outcome of CBT  for youth with anxiety disorders treated in community clinics. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 59, 53-63.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2018.08.008

Course Description: Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) has been linkd to positive long-term outcomes for children and adolescents with anxiety, but research on the predictors of these CBT outcomes is limited. The present study explored predictors of long-term changes in anxiety among youth treated with CBT in community mental health settings. Participants ranged in age from 11 to 21 years and were initially  diagnosed with separation anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, and/or generalized anxiety disorder. Analyses conducted between 2.2 and 5.9 years following treatment with CBT revealed that diagnoses of social anxiety disorder, lower treatment motivation, and lower family social were each predictive of poorer long-term outcomes. These findings have clinical implications for the use of CBT to treat youth with anxiety disorders.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the need for the study, as well as the methods used to explore predictors of long-term CBT outcomes
2. Identify the variables that were associated with long-term changes in anxiety following CBT
3. Integrate the strengths and limitations of the study, and summarize the clinical implications for using CBT to treat youth with anxiety disorders

Course Outline:

• Read and understand Predictors of long-term outcome of CBT for youth with anxiety disorders treated in community clinics
• Review the Course Description and Learning Objectives
• Understand the rationale for examining predictors of long-term CBT outcomes among youth with anxiety
• Understand how CBT was implemented and how outcomes were were measured
• Distinguish between variables that did versus did not predict long-term outcomes
• Integrate the study's key findings, strengths, limitations, and clinical implications
• Work through the post-test questions, using the article as the sole basis for your answers
• Revisit the article for any missed questions and/or to better understand the predictors of long-term outcomes among youth receiving CBT for anxiety disorders

Approvals: