Table 2.
Prevention programme descriptions and evaluation findings
| Programme | Sample size (country) |
Ages/Grades (risk factors) |
Programme elements | Session number and duration | Follow-up period* |
Child anxiety outcomes (diagnostic rates)† |
| Universal programmes—school-based | ||||||
| Aussie Optimism27 28 | 910 (Australia) |
Grade 4 (not applicable) |
Child group CBT‡ | 10 sessions over 2.5 months | 2.5 years | • 1 of 1 symptom |
| 1.5 years | • Any AD diagnoses (3% vs 4%) | |||||
| Targeted programmes—community-based | ||||||
| Cool Little Kids29 | 545 (Australia) |
4 years (temperamental inhibition) |
Parent group CBT training | 6 sessions over 3 months | 9 months | • SAD, SP, SpAD + GAD diagnoses (44% vs 50%) ↓ 1 of 1 symptom |
| Coping and Promoting Strength I30 | 40 (USA) |
7–12 years (parent with an anxiety disorder) |
Family CBT | 9–11 sessions over 5 months | 9 months | ↓ Any AD diagnoses§ (0% vs 30%) ↓ 2 of 3 symptoms |
| Coping and Promoting Strength II31 32 | 136 (USA) |
6–13 years (parent with an anxiety disorder) |
Family CBT | 11 sessions over 5 months | 9 months | ↓ Any AD diagnoses§ (5% vs 31%) ↓ 3 of 4 symptoms |
| Mindset33 | 96 (USA) |
12–15 years (anxiety/depressive symptoms) |
Child individual training on trait modifiability via computer | 1 30-min session | 9 months | • 2 of 2 symptoms |
| Targeted programmes—school-based | ||||||
| Feelings Club34 | 148 (Canada) |
Grades 3–6 (anxiety/depressive symptoms) |
Child group CBT + parent group education | 12 child + 3 parent sessions over 3 months | 1 year | • Any AD diagnoses (7% vs 10% by parent report; 8% vs 17% by child report) • 1 of 1 symptom |
| Friends35 | 260 (Australia) |
Grade 7 (anxiety symptoms) |
Child group CBT + parent group education | 12 child + 1–2 parent sessions over 5.5 months | 3.75 years | • Any AD diagnoses¶ (23% vs 24%) ↓ 1 of 2 symptoms |
| Generic Cognitive Behavioural Therapy | 240 (Netherlands) |
12–16 years (anxiety symptoms) |
Child group CBT | 10 sessions over 2.5 months | 2 years | • SAD diagnoses (2% vs 6%) • 4 of 4 symptoms |
| Cognitive Bias Modification36 | Child individual cognitive bias training via computer | 20 sessions over 2.5 months | 2 years | • SAD diagnoses (10% vs 6%) • 4 of 4 symptoms |
||
• Denotes no significant differences between intervention and comparison group.
↓ Denotes statistically-significant reductions in diagnoses/symptoms favouring intervention over comparison group.
* Follow-up period counted from end of intervention including booster sessions, where applicable.
† Diagnostic rates for intervention versus comparison children.
‡ Programme addressed both anxiety and depression.
§ Included children with AD diagnosis from post-test to final follow-up.
¶ Included children with AD diagnosis at any point in year prior to the final follow-up.
AD, anxiety disorder; CBT, cognitive behavioural therapy; GAD, generalised anxiety disorder; SAD, social anxiety disorder; SP, specific phobia; SpAD, separation anxiety disorder.