Effectiveness Trial of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy for Children and Adolescents with Severe Anxiety Symptoms in a Naturalistic Treatment Setting

TY - JOUR

T1 - Effectiveness Trial of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy for Children and Adolescents with Severe Anxiety Symptoms in a Naturalistic Treatment Setting

AU - Weitkamp, K

AU - Daniels, Judith K

AU - Baumeister-Duru, Anette

AU - Wulf, Andrea

AU - Romer, G

AU - Wiegand-Grefe, Silke

N1 - Angaben umfänglich nachkorrigiert. Original in Mail

PY - 2018

Y1 - 2018

N2 - Background The aim of the study was to look at symptom changes in naturalistic outpatient psychoanalytic child and adolescent psychotherapy for anxiety disorders in Germany. Methods (1) The first treatment period of the psychodynamic intervention group (<25 sessions) was compared with a minimal supportive treatment (waiting list) control group, and (2) the effects of long‐term psychoanalytical treatment (>25 sessions) were analysed using a longitudinal observational design. A total of 86 children and adolescents (4–21 years) were in the treatment group and 35 in the minimal supportive treatment control group. Questionnaires were administered at the beginning and end of treatment, as well as at 6‐ and 12‐month follow‐up (FU). Results When comparing the first treatment period with the minimal supportive treatment control group, both groups improved significantly with small effect sizes and no significant group differences. Both parents and patients reported moderate symptom improvements at the end of therapy (parent: d=0.58; patient: d=0.57), which were stable at FU and increased from the patient perspective (parent: d=0.37; patient: d=0.80). Conclusions The results suggest that anxiety symptoms significantly decreased during the treatment period and remained stable at FU. Due to the study design we could not rule out alternative explanations like regression to the mean.

AB - Background The aim of the study was to look at symptom changes in naturalistic outpatient psychoanalytic child and adolescent psychotherapy for anxiety disorders in Germany. Methods (1) The first treatment period of the psychodynamic intervention group (<25 sessions) was compared with a minimal supportive treatment (waiting list) control group, and (2) the effects of long‐term psychoanalytical treatment (>25 sessions) were analysed using a longitudinal observational design. A total of 86 children and adolescents (4–21 years) were in the treatment group and 35 in the minimal supportive treatment control group. Questionnaires were administered at the beginning and end of treatment, as well as at 6‐ and 12‐month follow‐up (FU). Results When comparing the first treatment period with the minimal supportive treatment control group, both groups improved significantly with small effect sizes and no significant group differences. Both parents and patients reported moderate symptom improvements at the end of therapy (parent: d=0.58; patient: d=0.57), which were stable at FU and increased from the patient perspective (parent: d=0.37; patient: d=0.80). Conclusions The results suggest that anxiety symptoms significantly decreased during the treatment period and remained stable at FU. Due to the study design we could not rule out alternative explanations like regression to the mean.

U2 - 10.1111/bjp.12363

DO - 10.1111/bjp.12363

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

VL - 34

SP - 300

EP - 318

JO - Brit J Psychother

JF - Brit J Psychother

SN - 0265-9883

IS - 2

ER -