The Effect of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Anxiety in Adolescents

Zuha Khan; Qandeel Zaib; Kanwal Saeed; Bakhtawar Khan; Haadi Ashal Pal; Muhammad Zaman

doi:10.70749/ijbr.v3i1.475

Authors

Zuha Khan Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
Qandeel Zaib Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan.
Kanwal Saeed Post Graduate Medical Institute, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
Bakhtawar Khan Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
Haadi Ashal Pal Aitchison College, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
Muhammad Zaman Allied Hospital, Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.70749/ijbr.v3i1.475

Keywords:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Anxiety, Adolescents, Mental Health

Abstract

Background: Anxiety disorders are prevalent among adolescents, significantly impacting their emotional well-being, academic performance, and social interactions. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in reducing anxiety symptoms in adolescents. Methodology: The study was conducted at Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi, from May 1 to October 30, 2024 and included 115 participants. All participants were screened to confirm an anxiety diagnosis and completed baseline assessments using standardized tools, including the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC) and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Results: Participants were divided into experimental and control groups with similar demographic characteristics, including mean ages of 15.4 ± 1.2 and 15.3 ± 1.1 years, respectively, and a male majority in both groups. Most participants were diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) (66.7% in the experimental group, 68% in the control group), while the remainder had social anxiety disorder (SAD). Baseline anxiety scores were comparable between groups, with mean BAI scores of 24.5 ± 5.2 and 23.8 ± 4.8, and STAIC scores of 38.7 ± 6.3 and 37.4 ± 5.9, respectively. Conclusion: CBT led to significant improvements in anxiety scores in the experimental group, with benefits sustained at 3- and 6-month follow-ups. These findings confirm the efficacy of CBT as a treatment for reducing anxiety symptoms in adolescents, offering a structured and evidence-based approach to managing this prevalent mental health challenge.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Seligman, L. D., & Ollendick, T. H. (2011). Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety Disorders in Youth. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 20(2), 217–238. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chc.2011.01.003

Pegg, S., Hill, K., Argiros, A., Olatunji, B. O., & Kujawa, A. (2022). Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety Disorders in Youth: Efficacy, Moderators, and New Advances in Predicting Outcomes. Current Psychiatry Reports, 24(12). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-022-01384-7

Lewis, K. M., Matsumoto, C., Cardinale, E., Jones, E. L., Gold, A. L., Stringaris, A., Leibenluft, E., Pine, D. S., & Brotman, M. A. (2020). Self-Efficacy As a Target for Neuroscience Research on Moderators of Treatment Outcomes in Pediatric Anxiety. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, 30(4), 205–214. https://doi.org/10.1089/cap.2019.0130

James, A. C., Reardon, T., Soler, A., James, G., & Creswell, C. (2020). Cognitive behavioural therapy for anxiety disorders in children and adolescents. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2020(11). https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd013162.pub2

Christ, C., Schouten, M. J., Blankers, M., Van Schaik, D. J., Beekman, A. T., Wisman, M. A., Stikkelbroek, Y. A., & Dekker, J. J. (2020). Internet and computer-based cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety and depression in adolescents and young adults: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 22(9), e17831. https://doi.org/10.2196/17831

Perihan, C., Burke, M., Bowman-Perrott, L., Bicer, A., Gallup, J., Thompson, J., & Sallese, M. (2019). Effects of cognitive behavioral therapy for reducing anxiety in children with high functioning ASD: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 50(6), 1958-1972. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-019-03949-7

Sigurvinsdóttir, A. L., Jensínudóttir, K. B., Baldvinsdóttir, K. D., Smárason, O., & Skarphedinsson, G. (2019). Effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for child and adolescent anxiety disorders across different CBT modalities and comparisons: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Nordic Journal of Psychiatry, 74(3), 168-180. https://doi.org/10.1080/08039488.2019.1686653

Ugwuanyi, C. S., Ede, M. O., Onyishi, C. N., Ossai, O. V., Nwokenna, E. N., Obikwelu, L. C., Ikechukwu-Ilomuanya, A., Amoke, C. V., Okeke, A. O., Ene, C. U., Offordile, E. E., Ozoemena, L. C., & Nweke, M. L. (2020). Effect of cognitive-behavioral therapy with music therapy in reducing physics test anxiety among students as measured by generalized test anxiety scale. Medicine, 99(17), e16406. https://doi.org/10.1097/md.0000000000016406

Wood, J. J., Kendall, P. C., Wood, K. S., Kerns, C. M., Seltzer, M., Small, B. J., Lewin, A. B., & Storch, E. A. (2020). Cognitive behavioral treatments for anxiety in children with autism spectrum disorder. JAMA Psychiatry, 77(5), 474. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2019.4160

Silk, J. S., Pramana, G., Sequeira, S. L., Lindhiem, O., Kendall, P. C., Rosen, D., & Parmanto, B. (2020). Using a smartphone app and clinician Portal to enhance brief cognitive behavioral therapy for childhood anxiety disorders. Behavior Therapy, 51(1), 69-84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2019.05.002

Lebowitz, E. R., Marin, C., Martino, A., Shimshoni, Y., & Silverman, W. K. (2020). Parent-based treatment as efficacious as cognitive-behavioral therapy for childhood anxiety: A randomized Noninferiority study of supportive parenting for anxious childhood emotions. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 59(3), 362-372. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2019.02.014

Baker, H. J., Lawrence, P. J., Karalus, J., Creswell, C., & Waite, P. (2021). The effectiveness of psychological therapies for anxiety disorders in adolescents: A meta-analysis. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 24(4), 765-782. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10567-021-00364-2

Wergeland, G. J., Riise, E. N., & Öst, L. (2021). Cognitive behavior therapy for internalizing disorders in children and adolescents in routine clinical care: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 83, 101918. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2020.101918

Li, J., Li, X., Jiang, J., Xu, X., Wu, J., Xu, Y., Lin, X., Hall, J., Xu, H., Xu, J., & Xu, X. (2020). The effect of cognitive behavioral therapy on depression, anxiety, and stress in patients with COVID-19: A randomized controlled trial. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.580827

Driscoll, K., Schonberg, M., Stark, M. F., Carter, A. S., & Hirshfeld-Becker, D. (2020). Family-centered cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety in very young children with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 50(11), 3905-3920. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-020-04446-y

Haugland, B. S., Haaland, Å. T., Baste, V., Bjaastad, J. F., Hoffart, A., Rapee, R. M., Raknes, S., Himle, J. A., Husabø, E., & Wergeland, G. J. (2020). Effectiveness of brief and standard school-based cognitive-behavioral interventions for adolescents with anxiety: A randomized Noninferiority study. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 59(4), 552-564.e2. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2019.12.003

Uhre, C. F., Uhre, V. F., Lønfeldt, N. N., Pretzmann, L., Vangkilde, S., Plessen, K. J., Gluud, C., Jakobsen, J. C., & Pagsberg, A. K. (2020). Systematic review and meta-analysis: Cognitive-behavioral therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder in children and adolescents. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 59(1), 64-77. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2019.08.480