Two-Year Outcome Following Group Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Adolescents with Anxiety Disorders in Low- and Middle-Income Country

Abstract

Anxiety disorders (ADs) are common in adolescents, and can greatly influence psychosocial development, especially if untreated. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has shown short-term effectiveness in the treatment of ADs. However, few studies have assessed the long-term effectiveness of CBT in low-and middle-income countries (LaMICs). The objective of the study was to assess symptoms of anxiety and depression and quality of life in participants two years after group CBT (GCBT). The present study consisted of a follow-up assessment of adolescents two years after undergoing GCBT for ADs. Outcome measures were assessed at baseline, after the end of therapy and at a two-year follow-up. Fifteen (79%) out of the 19 adolescents who completed GCBT were reasessed at follow-up. There was significant improvement in Global Clinical Impression (GCI) and Children's Global Assessment Scale (CGAS) scores with a large effect size (1.61 and 1.41, respectively), but no significant improvement was observed in anxiety and depression symptoms. There was significant improvement in general quality of life, with moderate effect size (0.74). The results underscore the long-term benefits of CBT and encourage its use in treating adolescents with ADs in LaMICs.

General and diabetes-specific stress in adolescents with type 1 diabetes

“…For example, adolescents experiencing high levels of diabetes specific-stress may benefit from CBT designed specifically to help improve coping with the specific daily stress that occurs as a result of T1D, such as how to approach telling peers about diabetes. Adolescents at high risk for stress symptoms, such as females and minorities, may also benefit from group CBT, which facilitates social support along with promoting coping skills [8,25]. Another approach is a coping skills training program, such as TEEN-COPE, a psychoeducational intervention delivered to adolescents via the Internet [31].…”