The case for involving the family in the treatment of childhood anxiety

Anxiety disorders are among the most common forms of psychopathology report ed by children and adolescents. Anxiety disorders in children have debilita ting consequences, both for the child and his/her family. In addition, rese arch indicates that, in many cases, these disorders follow a chronic and pe rsistent course. The efficacy of child-focused cognitive-behavioural interv entions in the treatment of childhood anxiety disorders has been well demon strated by recent, well-controlled research. This treatment outcome literat ure is briefly reviewed. Most recently, however, interventions used in the treatment of childhood anxiety disorders have taken the form of combined in terventions aimed both at the anxious child and his or her family. This pap er reviews two related bodies of research in presenting a case for the invo lvement of families in the treatment of childhood anxiety. First, the etiol ogical evidence implicating the families of anxious children in the develop ment and/or maintenance of childhood anxiety is presented. Second, the trea tment outcome studies that have empirically evaluated this type of combined intervention are reviewed.