Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Exposure Therapy for Anxiety Disorders in Children

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Book cover Exposure Therapy

Abstract

Unfortunately, childhood anxiety disorders are prevalent and cause a great deal of difficulty and interference in the lives of those children affected. The following chapter provides a brief overview of the outcome of almost two decades of research into the development and dissemination of efficacious treatments to alleviate the symptoms of these anxiety disorders. Behavioral and cognitive-behavioral interventions have been found to be particularly efficacious, administered either individually or in groups depending on the disorder. Even so, a great deal more research is required to further refine these treatments, determine how they work (i.e., mediators), determine for whom they work (i.e., moderators), and improve the effects of treatment for those children with refractory anxiety disorders.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Achenbach, T. M., & Rescorla, L. A. (2001). Manual for the ASEBA school-age forms & profiles. Burlington: University of Vermont.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bandura, A. (1969). Principles of behavior modification. New York: Holt, Rinehart, & Winston.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barrett, P. (1998). Evaluation of cognitive-behavioral group treatments for childhood anxiety disorders. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 27, 459–468.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Barrett, P., Dadds, M., & Rapee, R. (1996). Family treatment of childhood anxiety: A controlled trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 64, 333–342.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Barrett, P., Healy-Farrell, L., & March, J. (2004). Cognitive-behavioral family treatment of childhood obsessive-compulsive disorder: A controlled trial. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 43, 46–62.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Beck, A. T. (1993). Cognitive therapy: Past, present, and future. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 61, 194–198.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Beidel, D., Turner, S., & Morris, T. (2000). Behavioral treatment of childhood social phobia. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 68, 1072–1080.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Berman, S. L., Weems, C. F., Silverman, W. K., & Kutines, W. M. (2000). Predictors of outcome in exposure-based cognitive and behavioral treatments for phobic and anxiety disorders in children. Behavior Therapy, 31, 713–731.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bouton, M. (2004). Context and behavioral processes in extinction. Learning and Memory, 11, 485–494.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cantwell, D., & Baker, L. (1989). Stability and natural history of DSM-III childhood diagnoses. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 28, 691–700.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cartwright-Hatton, S., McNicol, K., & Doubleday, E. (2006). Anxiety in a neglected population: Prevalence of anxiety disorders in pre-adolescent children. Clinical Psychology Review, 26, 817–833.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, J., Deblinger, E., Mannarino, A., & Steer, R. (2004). A multisite, randomized controlled trial for children with sexual abuse-related PTSD symptoms. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 43, 393–402.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cornwall, E., Spence, S., & Schotte, D. (1996). The effectiveness of emotive imagery in the treatment of darkness phobia in children. Behaviour Change, 13, 223–229.

    Google Scholar 

  • Costello, E. J., Mustillo, S., Erkanli, A., Keeler, G., & Angold, A. (2003). Prevalence and development of psychiatric disorders in childhood and adolescence. Archives of General Psychiatry, 60, 837–844.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Crawford, A. M., & Manassis, K. (2001). Familial predictors of treatment outcome in childhood anxiety disorders. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 40, 1182–1189.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Davis, T. E., III. (2009). PTSD, anxiety, and phobias. In J. Matson, F. Andrasik, & M. Matson (Eds.), Treating childhood psychopathology and developmental disorders (pp. 183–220). New York: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Davis, T. E., III, May, A. C., & Whiting, S. E. (2011). Evidence-based treatment of anxiety and phobia in children and adolescents: Current status and effects on the emotional response. Clinical Psychology Review, 31, 592–602.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Davis, T. E., III, & Ollendick, T. H. (2005). A critical review of empirically supported treatments for specific phobia in children: Do efficacious treatments address the components of a phobic response? Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 12, 144–160.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davis, T. E., III, Ollendick, T. H., & Nebel-Schwalm, M. (2008). Intellectual ability and achievement in anxiety-disordered children: A clarification and extension of the literature. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 30, 43–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davis, T. E., III, Ollendick, T. H., & Öst, L. G. (2009). Intensive treatment of specific phobias in children and adolescents. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 16, 294–303.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Deblinger, E., Lippmann, J., & Steer, R. (1996). Sexually abused children suffering posttraumatic stress symptoms: Initial treatment outcome findings. Child Maltreatment, 1, 310–321.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de Haan, E., Hoogduin, K., Buitelaar, J., & Keijsers, G. (1998). Behavior therapy versus clomipramine for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder in children and adolescents. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 37, 1022–1029.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • De Los Reyes, A., & Kazdin, A. (2005). Informant discrepancies in the assessment of childhood psychopathology: A critical review, theoretical framework, and recommendations for further study. Psychological Bulletin, 131, 483–509.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Flannery-Schroeder, E., & Kendall, P. (2000). Group and individual cognitive-behavioral treatments for youth with anxiety disorders: A randomized clinical trial. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 24, 251–278.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gallagher, H., Rabian, B., & McCloskey, M. (2004). A brief cognitive-behavioral intervention for social phobia in childhood. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 18, 459–479.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ginsburg, G. S., & Drake, K. L. (2002). School-based treatment for anxious African–American adolescents: A controlled pilot study. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 41, 768–775.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Grills, A., & Ollendick, T. H. (2002). Peer victimization, global self-worth, and anxiety in middle-school children. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 31, 59–68.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Grills, A., & Ollendick, T. H. (2003). Multiple informant agreement and the anxiety disorders interview schedule for parents and children. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 42, 30–40.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jacobson, E. (1938). Progressive relaxation. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jenson, P. S., Rubio-Stipec, M., Canino, G., Bird, H. R., Dulcan, M. K., Schwab-Stone, M. E., et al. (1999). Parent and child contributions to diagnosis of mental disorder: Are both informants always necessary? Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 38, 1569–1579.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kendall, P. C. (1993). Cognitive-behavioral therapies with youth: Guiding theory, current status, and emerging developments. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 61, 235–247.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kendall, P. (1994). Treating anxiety disorders in children: Results of a randomized clinical trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 62, 100–110.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kendall, P., Flannery-Schroeder, E., Panichelli-Mindel, S., Southam-Gerow, M., Henin, A., & Warman, M. (1997). Therapy for youths with anxiety disorders: A second randomized clinical trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 65, 366–380.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • King, N., Tonge, B., Heyne, D., Pritchard, M., Rollings, S., Young, D., et al. (1998). Cognitive-behavioral treatment of school-refusing children: A controlled evaluation. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 37, 395–403.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • King, N., Tonge, B., Mullen, P., Myerson, N., Heyne, D., Rollings, S., et al. (2000). Treating sexually abuse children with posttraumatic stress symptoms: A randomized clinical trial. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 39, 1347–1355.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kovacs, M., Gatsonis, C., Paulauskas, S., & Richards, C. (1989). Depressive disorders in childhood: IV. A longitudinal study of comorbidity with and risk for anxiety disorders. Archives of General Psychiatry, 46, 776–782.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Last, C., Hansen, C., & Franco, N. (1997). Anxious children in adulthood: A prospective study of adjustment. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 36, 645–652.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lyneham, H. J., & Rapee, R. M. (2006). Evaluation of therapist-supported parent-implemented CBT for anxiety disorders in rural children. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 44, 1287–1300.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • March, J., Parker, J., Sullivan, K., Stallings, P., & Conners, C. K. (1997). The multidimensional anxiety scale for children (MASC): Factor structure, reliability, and validity. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 36, 554–565.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McGee, R., Feehan, M., Williams, S., & Anderson, J. (1992). DSM-III disorders from age 11 to 15 years. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 31, 50–59.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Moree, B., & Davis, T. E., III. (2010). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety in children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders: Modification trends. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 4, 346–354.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Muris, P., Merckelbach, H., Holdrinet, I., & Sijsenaar, M. (1998). Treating phobic children: Effects of EMDR versus exposure. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 66, 193–198.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Muris, P., Merckelbach, H., Van Haaften, H., & Mayer, B. (1997). Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing versus exposure in vivo: A single-session crossover study of spider-phobic children. British Journal of Psychiatry, 171, 82–86.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Muris, P., Meesters, C., & van Melick, M. (2002). Treatment of childhood anxiety disorders: A preliminary comparison between cognitive-behavioral group therapy and a psychological placebo intervention. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 33, 143–158.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nauta, M., Scholing, A., Emmelkamp, P., & Minderaa, R. (2003). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for children with anxiety disorders in a clinical setting: No additional effect of a cognitive parent training. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 42, 1270–1278.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ollendick, T. H., Davis, T. E., III, & Muris, P. (2004). Treatment of specific phobia in children and adolescents. In P. Barrett & T. H. Ollendick (Eds.), The handbook of interventions that work with children and adolescents—From prevention to treatment (pp. 273–299). West Sussex, England: Wiley.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Ollendick, T. H., Davis, T. E., III, & Sirbu, C. V. (2009). Phobias. In D. McKay & E. Storch (Eds.), Cognitive behavior therapy for children: Treating complex and refractory case (pp. 171–200). New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Öst, L. G., Svensson, L., Hellstrom, K., & Lindwall, R. (2001). One-session treatment of specific phobias in youths: A randomized clinical trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 69, 814–824.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pediatric OCD treatment study (POTS) team. (2004). Cognitive-behavior therapy, sertraline, and their combination for children and adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder: The pediatric OCD treatment study (POTS) randomized controlled trial. Journal of the American Medical Association, 292, 1969–1976.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rapee, R. M., Abbott, M. J., & Lyneham, H. J. (2006). Bibliotherapy for children with anxiety disorders using written materials for parents: A randomized control trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 74, 436–444.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds, C. R., & Richmond, B. O. (1978). What I think and feel: A revised measure of children’s manifest anxiety. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychiatry, 6, 271–290.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ritter, B. (1965). The treatment of a dissection phobia. Unpublished manuscript, Queens College.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ritter, B. (1968). The group desensitization of children’s snake phobias using vicarious and contact desensitization procedures. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 6, 1–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Seligman, L., & Ollendick, T. H. (1999). Anxiety disorders. In H. C. Steinhauser & F. Verhulst (Eds.), Risks and outcomes in developmental psychopathology (pp. 103–120). New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shortt, A., Barrett, P., & Fox, T. (2001). Evaluating the FRIENDS program: A cognitive-behavioral group treatment for anxious children and their parents. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 30, 525–535.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Silverman, W. K., & Albano, A. M. (1996). Anxiety disorders interview schedule for dsm-IV, child and parent versions. San Antonio: Psychological Corporation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Silverman, W., Kurtines, W., Ginsburg, G., Weems, C., Lumpkin, P., & Carmichael, D. (1999). Treating anxiety disorders in children with group cognitive-behavioral therapy: A randomized clinical trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 67, 995–1003.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Silverman, W., & Ollendick, T. H. (2005). Evidence-based assessment of anxiety and its disorders in children and adolescents. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 34, 380–411.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Southam-Gerow, M. A., Kendall, P. C., & Weersing, V. R. (2001). Examining outcome variability: Correlates of treatment response in a child and adolescent anxiety clinic. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 30, 422–436.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Spence, S., Donovan, C., & Brechman-Toussaint, M. (2000). The treatment of childhood social phobia: The effectiveness of a social skills training-based, cognitive-behavioural intervention, with and without parental involvement. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines, 41, 713–726.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spence, S., Holmes, J., March, S., & Lipp, O. (2006). The feasibility and outcome of clinic plus internet delivery of cognitive-behavior therapy for childhood anxiety. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 74, 614–621.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stein, B., Jaycox, L., Kataoka, S., Wong, M., Tu, W., Elliot, M., & Fink, A. (2003). A mental health intervention for schoolchildren exposed to violence: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of the American Medical Association, 290, 603–611.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Task Force on Promotion and Dissemination of Psychological Procedures. (1995). Training in and dissemination of empirically validated psychological treatments: Report and recommendations. The Clinical Psychologist, 48, 3–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walkup, J. T., Albano, A. M., Piacentini, J., Birmaher, B., Compton, S. N., Sherrill, J. T., et al. (2008). Cognitive behavioral therapy, sertraline, or a combination in childhood anxiety. The New England Journal of Medicine, 359, 2753–2766.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wolpe, J. (1958). Psychotherapy by reciprocal inhibition. Stanford: Stanford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woodward, L., & Fergusson, D. (2001). Life course outcomes of young people with anxiety disorders in adolescence. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 40, 1086–1093.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zlomke, K., & Davis, T. E., III. (2008). One-session treatment of specific phobias: A detailed description and review of treatment efficacy. Behavior Therapy, 39, 207–223.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory for Anxiety, Phobia, & Internalizing Disorder Studies (LAPIS), Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, 236 Audubon Hall, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA

    Thompson E. Davis III, Sara E. Whiting & Anna C. May

Authors
  1. Thompson E. Davis III
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sara E. Whiting
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Anna C. May
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Thompson E. Davis III .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Praxis für Verhaltenstherapie, Follerstr. 64, Cologne, 50676, Germany

    Peter Neudeck

  2. Inst. Klinische Psychologie und, Psychotherapie, TU Dresden, Chemnitzer Str. 46, Dresden, 01187, Germany

    Hans-Ulrich Wittchen

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Davis, T.E., Whiting, S.E., May, A.C. (2012). Exposure Therapy for Anxiety Disorders in Children. In: Neudeck, P., Wittchen, HU. (eds) Exposure Therapy. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3342-2_7

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation