PREVENTION AND EARLY INTERVENTION FOR ANXIETY DISORDERS - A CONTROLLED TRIAL

The Queensland Early Intervention and Prevention of Anxiety Project ev aluated the effectiveness of a cognitive-behavioral and family-based g roup intervention for preventing the onset and development of anxiety problems in children. A total of 1,786 7- to 14-year-olds were screene d for anxiety problems using teacher nominations and children's self-r eport. After recruitment and diagnostic interviews, 128 children were selected and assigned to a l0-week school-based child- and parent-focu sed psychosocial intervention or to a monitoring group. Both groups sh owed improvements immediately postintervention. At 6 months follow-up, the improvement maintained in the intervention group only, reducing t he rate of existing anxiety disorder and preventing the onset of new a nxiety disorders. Overall, the results showed that anxiety problems an d disorders identified using child and teacher reports can be successf ully targeted through an early intervention school-based program.