TAFF-Psychological Treatment of Separation Anxiety Disorder

The purpose of this study is to determine whether a specific family based cognitive behavioral treatment program is effective in the treatment of children with separation anxiety disorder.

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental disorders both in adulthood and childhood. Recent research indicates that anxiety disorders in childhood and in particular Separation Anxiety Disorder (SAD) increase the risk of mental disorders in adulthood. Despite these results research on SAD is still limited compared to the vast research activity on adult anxiety disorders. The proposed research program will close a gap of current international research: It will test the efficacy of a family based cognitive behavioral treatment program specific for SAD. The research program consists of two parts. One study is aimed at children with SAD aged 5 to 7. 40 children are randomly allocated immediately to SAD-specific family-based treatment or to a wait list. For the second study 60 children with SAD (8 to 13 years old) are randomly allocated to either SAD-specific family-based treatment ("SAD-CBT") or a well established global CBT program for childhood anxiety disorders ("global CBT"). In both studies treatment success is tested at the end of treatment as well as 4 weeks and 1, 2 and 3 years after treatment.

The present study evaluates the efficacy of a family-based CBT treatment specifically tailored to children with SAD, developed at the University of Basel. The study consists of 40 participants (5-7 years old) with SAD and their families. Participants were randomly assigned to 12 weeks of SAD-specific family-based CBT treatment or to waitlist condition.

The present study evaluates the efficacy of a family-based CBT treatment specifically tailored to children with SAD, developed at the University of Basel in comparison to a global CBT treatment. The study consists of 60 participants (between 8 and 13 years old), randomly assigned to one of the two treatments.

newly developed family based cognitive behavior therapy for children with separation anxiety disorder over 5 years old

Inclusion Criteria: Primary diagnosis of SAD Age 5 to 13 years Knowledge of German language Consent to randomization and psychological testing Exclusion Criteria: Comorbid Pervasive Developmental Disorders Active psychotropic drugs

Schneider S, Blatter-Meunier J, Herren C, Adornetto C, In-Albon T, Lavallee K. Disorder-specific cognitive-behavioral therapy for separation anxiety disorder in young children: a randomized waiting-list-controlled trial. Psychother Psychosom. 2011;80(4):206-15. doi: 10.1159/000323444. Epub 2011 Apr 14.