Examining the Efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Youth with Anxiety: A Long-Term Follow-Up Study

Abstract

Introduction: In terms of effectiveness studies, cognition, and behaviour treatment (CBT) has shown lasting benefits in young individuals with anxiety issues. Uncertainty surrounds the long-term consequences of CBT administered in a public environment.

Objectives: The long-term effects of a person and group of cognitive behavioural therapy on youthful sufferers of anxiety disorders who received treatment in public mental health facilities were studied in this research. With a major diagnosis of a separation anxiety disorder (SAD), social anxiety disorder (SOP), and/or generalized anxiety disorder (GADA), 139 young people with a median age at evaluation of 15.5 years and a range of 11 to 21 years were assessed on a 3.9-year average following therapy (between 2.2 and 5.9).

Methods: The major worry diagnostic was eliminated, along with all other anxiety diagnoses, and the symptoms of young people's anxiety as described by their parents and peers were altered as a consequence. Following up for a while, there were 8 substantial declines in all anxiety symptom measures, removal of all diagnoses of inclusion trepidation in 53% of people, also a lack of the primary anxiety diagnosis in 63% of people. Between ICBT and GCBT, the outcomes did not vary statistically significantly.

Results: Compared to those whose primary diagnosis was SAD or GAD, those whose primary diagnosis was SOP had worse recovery probabilities.

Conclusions: In conclusion, CBT for adolescents with improvement in the results of treatment at outpatient mental health centres for anxiety disorders about 4 years later, and long-term recovery rates were similar to trials evaluating efficacy.