Case series: Brief parent-child group therapy for childhood anxiety disorders using a manual-based cognitive-behavioral technique

Objective: To report on a brief parent-child group therapy program for children with anxiety disorders. Method: Twenty-four children with an anxiety disorder and their parents participated in a 10-session treatment. Children were evaluated at pretreatment (T₁), posttreatment (T₂), 12-month follow-up (T₃), and 36-month follow-up (T₄). Ten children were also assessed on entering a waiting period (T₀). Results: There were no significant symptomatic changes between T₀ and T₁. Anxiety symptoms decreased significantly during the treatment and follow-up periods. Depressive symptoms changed only during the follow-up period. The percentage of children with no current anxiety disorder was 71% at T₂ and 91% at T₄. Children of mothers with an anxiety disorder improved more than children of nonanxious mothers, whereas the anxiety level of anxious mothers remained stable. Conclusions: Brief parent-child group psychotherapy may serve as a time-limited, cost-effective, and efficient intervention.