Improving Treatment Response for Paediatric Anxiety Disorders: An Information-Processing Perspective

Research output: Contribution to journalReviewResearchpeer-review

  • Sarah Ege
  • Marie Louise Reinholdt-Dunne

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is considered the treatment of choice for paediatric anxiety disorders, yet there remains substantial room for improvement in treatment outcomes. This paper examines whether theory and research into the role of information-processing in the underlying psychopathology of paediatric anxiety disorders indicate possibilities for improving treatment response. Using a critical review of recent theoretical, empirical and academic literature, the paper examines the role of information-processing biases in paediatric anxiety disorders, the extent to which CBT targets information-processing biases, and possibilities for improving treatment response. The literature reviewed indicates a role for attentional and interpretational biases in anxious psychopathology. While there is theoretical grounding and limited empirical evidence to indicate that CBT ameliorates interpretational biases, evidence regarding the effects of CBT on attentional biases is mixed. Novel treatment methods including attention bias modification training, attention feedback awareness and control training, and mindfulness-based therapy may hold potential in targeting attentional biases, and thereby in improving treatment response. The integration of novel interventions into an existing evidence-based protocol is a complex issue and faces important challenges with regard to determining the optimal treatment package. Novel interventions targeting information-processing biases may hold potential in improving response to CBT for paediatric anxiety disorders. Many important questions remain to be answered.

Original languageEnglish
JournalClinical Child and Family Psychology Review
Volume19
Issue number4
Pages (from-to)392-402
Number of pages11
ISSN1096-4037
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2016

    Research areas

  • Anxiety, Attention, Child, Information processing

ID: 179123821