Personality Characteristics of Children and Adolescents with Anxiety Disorder from a Maternal Perspective: A Brief Report.

The present study assessed the personality characteristics of children and adolescents with anxiety disorder from a maternal perspective. A total of 48 children and adolescents aged between 8 and 17 years participated in this study, which was organized as follows: a clinical group (24 children and adolescents with anxiety disorders and their respective mothers) and a control group (24 children and adolescents without psychiatric diagnosis and their mothers). The participants were submitted to the WASI, CBCL, MASC-2, and EPQ-J tests and their mothers to the SRQ-20 and PIC-2 tests. The results showed higher rates of internalizing symptoms in the clinical group. In addition, patients showed less interest in hobbies, less adherence to social organizations, impairment in social activities, and commitment to school performance compared to the control group. There was a positive correlation between the mothers' symptoms and each of the following PIC-2 domains: somatic concern (p < 0.01) and psychological discomfort (p < 0.01). In conclusion, youths with AD showed a withdrawn and reserved personality profile, involving distrust of impulses and avoidance of interactions with peers. Furthermore, psychoemotional problems of mothers adversely influenced the perception followed by anxiety and adjustment characteristics. More studies are needed to assess the maternal personality in youths with anxiety.

Systematic Review and Meta-analysis: An Empirical Approach to Defining Treatment Response and Remission in Pediatric Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

OBJECTIVE: A lack of universal definitions for response and remission in pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has hampered the comparability of results across trials. To address this problem, we conducted an individual participant data diagnostic test accuracy meta-analysis to evaluate the discriminative ability of the Children's Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (CY-BOCS) in determining response and remission. We also aimed to generate empirically derived cutoffs on the CY-BOCS for these outcomes. METHOD: A systematic review of PubMed, PsycINFO, Embase and CENTRAL identified 5,401 references; 42 randomized controlled clinical trials were considered eligible, and 21 provided data for inclusion (N = 1,234). Scores of ≤2 in the Clinical Global Impressions Improvement and Severity scales were chosen to define response and remission, respectively. A 2-stage, random-effects meta-analysis model was established. The area under the curve (AUC) and the Youden Index were computed to indicate the discriminative ability of the CY-BOCS and to guide for the optimal cutoff, respectively. RESULTS: The CY-BOCS had sufficient discriminative ability to determine response (AUC = 0.89) and remission (AUC = 0.92). The optimal cutoff for response was a ≥35% reduction from baseline to posttreatment (sensitivity = 83.9, 95% CI = 83.7-84.1; specificity = 81.7, 95% CI = 81.5-81.9). The optimal cutoff for remission was a posttreatment raw score of ≤12 (sensitivity = 82.0, 95% CI = 81.8-82.2; specificity = 84.6, 95% CI = 84.4-84.8). CONCLUSION: Meta-analysis identified empirically optimal cutoffs on the CY-BOCS to determine response and remission in pediatric OCD randomized controlled clinical trials. Systematic adoption of standardized operational definitions for response and remission will improve comparability across trials for pediatric OCD.

Fears in preschoolers: translation, reliability, and validity of the Fear Survey Schedule for Infant-Preschoolers (FSSIP) - Brazilian version.

OBJECTIVE: To translate the Fear Survey Schedule for Infants-Preschoolers (FSSIP) into Brazilian Portuguese and to examine its reliability and validity for assessing fears among Brazilian preschoolers. METHODS: Two independent bilingual professionals conducted translation and back-translation of the original survey. The translated version was used to assess 152 preschool children divided in two groups: Clinical - 71 children referred for treatment for nighttime fear, and Control - 81 children enrolled at kindergarten who had not been referred for any mental health service in the previous 6 months. All parents filled out the FSSIP, the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL/1.5-5), and a sociodemographic questionnaire. RESULTS: Cronbach's alpha coefficients were 0.949 (95% CI: 0.94-0.96) for the entire sample; 0.948 (95% CI: 0.93-0.96) for the Clinical Group, and 0.95 (95% CI: 0.93-0.96) for the Control Group. The mean score for fears was higher in the clinical group (60.19 vs. 51.53, t = -2.056; p = 0.042), indicating acceptable discriminate validity. We also found positive, moderate, and statistically significant correlations between FSSIP and most CBCL scores, indicating good convergent validity. CONCLUSION: The Brazilian Portuguese version of the FSSIP showed good psychometric properties, and hence may be used in research and clinical settings to evaluate fears in preschoolers.

Fears in preschoolers: translation, reliability, and validity of the Fear Survey Schedule for Infant-Preschoolers (FSSIP) - Brazilian version

Abstract Objective To translate the Fear Survey Schedule for Infants-Preschoolers (FSSIP) into Brazilian Portuguese and to examine its reliability and validity for assessing fears among Brazilian preschoolers. Methods Two independent bilingual professionals conducted translation and back-translation of the original survey. The translated version was used to assess 152 preschool children divided in two groups: Clinical - 71 children referred for treatment for nighttime fear, and Control - 81 children enrolled at kindergarten who had not been referred for any mental health service in the previous 6 months. All parents filled out the FSSIP, the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL/1.5-5), and a sociodemographic questionnaire. Results Cronbach's alpha coefficients were 0.949 (95% CI: 0.94-0.96) for the entire sample; 0.948 (95% CI: 0.93-0.96) for the Clinical Group, and 0.95 (95% CI: 0.93-0.96) for the Control Group. The mean score for fears was higher in the clinical group (60.19 vs. 51.53, t = -2.056; p = 0.042), indicating acceptable discriminate validity. We also found positive, moderate, and statistically significant correlations between FSSIP and most CBCL scores, indicating good convergent validity. Conclusion The Brazilian Portuguese version of the FSSIP showed good psychometric properties, and hence may be used in research and clinical settings to evaluate fears in preschoolers.

Specialty knowledge and competency standards for pharmacotherapy for pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Evidence based treatments for pediatric Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) are delivered with varying levels of expertise. This paper is part of the phase two series by the International OCD Accreditation Task Force (ATF) to advance a standardized high level of care globally. This paper presents specific knowledge and competencies recommended for specialized practice for pediatric psychopharmacologists working with OCD, developed by an international group of clinicians with extensive expertise in assessment and treatment of OCD. Tabulated knowledge and competency standards are operationalized as clinician abilities with specification of evidence for each standard. The distinction between current practice guidelines and ATF standards is discussed. Drug treatment has a solid evidence base. However, it should not be applied isolated, but informed by broad competence in general child and adolescent psychiatry and pediatrics. Other treatment relevant areas such as specialty CBT, family functioning, developmental issues, and neurobiology require consideration. Drug treatment includes several phases with varying degrees of evidence: Starting up medication, titration to maximum tolerated dose, maintenance, termination, and relapse prevention. In complex cases, pharmacotherapy with weak evidence may be needed to target symptoms and/or co-morbidity. The ATF knowledge and competency standards presented will be reviewed and updated commensurate with research.

Is it time to change the gold standard of obsessive-compulsive disorder severity assessment? Factor structure of the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale.

OBJECTIVES: The Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale has been considered the gold standard scale to assess obsessive-compulsive disorder severity. Previous studies using exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis with this scale showed mixed findings in terms of factor structure and fit of models. Therefore, we used confirmatory factor analysis to compare different Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale models in a large sample aiming to identify the best model fit. METHODS: We assessed adult obsessive-compulsive disorder patients (n = 955) using three measures: Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale severity ratings, the Dimensional Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale and the clinical global impression scale. We tested all factor structures reported by previous studies to investigate which model best fitted the data: one-factor, two-factor, three-factor and their equivalent high-order solutions. We also investigated Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale items correlations with scores from the other measures of obsessive-compulsive disorder severity. RESULTS: Confirmatory factor analysis models presented mediocre to fair goodness-of-fit indexes. Severity items related to resistance to obsessions and compulsions presented low factor loadings. The model with the best fit indexes was a high-order model without obsessive-compulsive disorder resistance items. These items also presented small correlations with other obsessive-compulsive disorder severity measures. CONCLUSION: The obsessive-compulsive disorder field needs to discuss further improvements in the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale and/or continue to search for better measures of obsessive-compulsive disorder severity.

Long-term outcome of children and adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder: a 7-9-year follow-up of a randomized clinical trial.

Pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an impairing disorder frequently associated with long-term persistence. Long-term follow-up studies that investigated psychopathological trajectories after initial treatment are scarce. The present study is a 7-9-year follow-up of a randomized clinical trial (RCT) that tested the efficacy of group cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and sertraline for children with OCD (n = 40), and aimed to describe long-term outcomes of pediatric OCD and identify predictors of these outcomes. Thirty-five participants who were included in the original study were recruited for follow-up evaluations. Participants underwent a comprehensive assessment of demographic and clinical characteristics comprised of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Disorders (SCID) and/or Kiddie-Schedule of Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia Present-Lifetime (K-SADS-PL), and the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (YBOCS). Thirty-three participants had a complete psychiatric assessment at follow-up (mean age 21 years, SD 3.2; 65% male). At follow-up, 13 (39.4%) participants had an OCD diagnosis, 10 (30.3%) had a diagnosis of any mental disorder (excluding OCD), and 10 (30.3%) did not have any diagnosis of mental disorder. In total, 23 participants (69.7%) had at least one mental disorder (including OCD). Among those without OCD (n = 20), 60.6% had a mental disorder. The following characteristics at follow-up were associated with OCD diagnosis: YBOCS total score (p < 0.001), global functioning (p = 0.008), and presence of any anxiety disorder (p = 0.027). Being treated with GCBT or sertraline during the original RCT did not predict OCD at follow-up. New treatment strategies should consider the role of psychopathological trajectories using a dynamic approach to combine or change interventions to enhance prognosis.

Impairment in planning tasks of children and adolescents with anxiety disorders.

Anxiety disorders are associated with poor neuropsychological performance in attention and memory. However, little is known about the impact of these difficulties on other cognitive functions, such as planning. The ability to plan, including attention, working memory and set-shifting components, can be assessed by the Tower of Hanoi task (ToH). This study evaluated seventy-one participants, aged from 7-17 years. Thirty-seven subjects met DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for at least one anxiety disorder and 34 individuals comprised the controls. The neuropsychological tests used were: the ToH, a problem-solving task, involves planning ability and other executive functions (working memory, attentional control and cognitive flexibility); for the assessment of processing speed and problem-solving, the Vocabulary/Matrix Reasoning subtests of the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence was used to measure for estimated-IQ in both groups. The groups were compared with a generalized linear model controlling for age, IQ and ADHD comorbidity. Compared with controls, anxiety disorders subjects made more errors and required more time to complete the ToH. Children and adolescents with anxiety disorders have poorer planning ability compared to subjects without anxiety disorders, and the difficulty in planning is affected by interference from other cognitive functions, such as attention, working memory, cognitive flexibility and problems-solutions.

Brief treatment for nighttime fears and co-sleeping problems: A randomized clinical trial.

Sixty-eight 4-6 year old children who co-slept with their parents and who avoided sleeping alone due to intense nighttime fears were randomized to a brief combined parent-based intervention (CBT-based bibliotherapy plus doll) or a wait list control group. After the waiting period, the wait list participants were offered treatment. Co-sleeping patterns, sleep records, anxiety, general fears, and behavior problems were assessed with parent-report measures. Nighttime fears were assessed with parent-report measures and a single item visual analogue scale for the young children. Assessments were completed pre-treatment, post-treatment, and at 3 months following treatment. Results showed that the combined intervention was superior to the wait list control condition and that treatment effects were maintained at 3-month follow-up. This study provides initial support for use of CBT-based bibliotherapy plus doll in the treatment of nighttime fears. Such a treatment might be used to supplement standard CBT approaches in routine clinical practice or in a stepped care approach to treatment.

Adaptive treatment strategies for children and adolescents with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A sequential multiple assignment randomized trial.

OBJECTIVE: This sequential multiple assignment randomized trial (SMART) tested the effect of beginning treatment of childhood OCD with fluoxetine (FLX) or group cognitive-behavioral therapy (GCBT) accounting for treatment failures over time. METHODS: A two-stage, 28-week SMART was conducted with 83 children and adolescents with OCD. Participants were randomly allocated to GCBT or FLX for 14 weeks. Responders to the initial treatment remained in the same regimen for additional 14 weeks. Non-responders, defined by less than 50% reduction in baseline Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) scores, were re-randomized to either switch to or add the other treatment. Assessments were performed at baseline, 7, 14, 21, and 28 weeks. RESULTS: Among the 43 children randomized to FLX who completed the first stage, 15 (41.7%) responded to treatment and 21 non-responders were randomized to switch to (N = 9) or add GCBT (N = 12). Among the 40 children randomized to GCBT who completed the first stage, 18 (51.4%) responded to treatment and 17 non-responders were randomized to switch to (N = 9) or add FLX (N = 8). Primary analysis showed that significant improvement occurred in children initially treated with either FLX or GCBT. Each time point was statistically significant, showing a linear trend of symptom reduction. Effect sizes were large within (0.76-0.78) and small between (-0.05) groups. CONCLUSIONS: Fluoxetine and GCBT are similarly effective initial treatments for childhood OCD considering treatment failures over time. Consequently, provision of treatment for childhood OCD could be tailored according to the availability of local resources.

Child-focused treatment of pediatric OCD affects parental behavior and family environment.

This study aimed to investigate the impact of child-focused pediatric OCD treatment on parental anxiety, family accommodation and family environment. Forty-three parents (72.1% female, mean age±SD=43.1±5.6 years) were evaluated at baseline and after their children's (n=33, 54.5% female, mean age±SD=12.9±2.7 years) randomized treatment with Group Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy or fluoxetine for 14 weeks. Validated instruments were administered by trained clinicians. Parents were assessed with the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Family Accommodation Scale (FAS) and the Family Environment Scale (FES). The Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale was administered to children. Significant findings after the children's treatment include decreased family accommodation levels (participation, modification and distress/consequences domains); increased cohesion and active-recreational components of the family environment. In addition, changes in the FAS distress/consequences and the FES cohesion subscores were correlated with the children's clinical improvement. These results suggest that child-focused OCD treatment may have a positive impact on family accommodation and family environment. Future studies should further clarify the reciprocal influences of pediatric OCD treatment and family factors.

The place of and evidence for serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs) for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) in children and adolescents: Views based on a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Serotonin reuptake inhibiting drugs (SRI) have been used in the treatment of paediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder over the past 30 years. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature to discuss the place of and evidence for the use of SRI in paediatric OCD, based on 14 publications of methodologically sound, randomized and controlled studies. Both SRI and specific SRIs were examined and comparisons of SRI, placebo, cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), combined (COMBO) treatments (SRI+CBT) made to investigate their relative efficacy. Using the Cochrane methodology, and as measures of effect size mean difference and Hedge's g, SRIs proved to be superior to drug placebo, with a modest effect size. From direct comparisons of CBT and SRI treatments, we conclude that CBT has the superior efficacy. COMBO versus CBT shows that SRI treatment adds little to concomitant CBT, while COMBO shows favourable outcome versus SRI alone. In pre-trial partial treatment responders, those who failed a SRI had better outcome from adding CBT as compared to continuing a SRI. Those who failed CBT treatment did as well with continued CBT as with switching to a SRI. The studies of combinations and sequences of treatments need to be developed further.

Comparison among clomipramine, fluoxetine, and placebo for the treatment of anxiety disorders in children and adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to test the efficacy of clomipramine and fluoxetine, controlled by placebo, and compare their action in children and adolescents with anxiety disorders. METHOD: Thirty subjects (ages 7-17 years), who were diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder and/or separation anxiety disorder and/or social phobia, were submitted to a 12 week double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of clomipramine and fluoxetine. The instruments included: the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia, the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children, the Children's Depression Inventory, the Clinical Global Impressions, and the Children's Global Assessment Scale. RESULTS: All groups (clomipramine [n=9], fluoxetine [n=10], placebo [n=11]) showed a significant improvement after 12 weeks of treatment. There were significant differences between the fluoxetine and placebo groups in some ratings of anxiety severity and impairment. No significant differences were observed between clomipramine and placebo groups or between fluoxetine and clomipramine groups. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with placebo showed an unusual high response rate. Clomipramine showed similar efficacy compared with fluoxetine, although it was not superior to placebo.

[Cognitive-behavioral therapy in social phobia]. / Terapia cognitivo-comportamental da fobia social.

OBJECTIVE: This article reviews relevant aspects of social phobia and the stages of treatment within cognitive-behavioral therapy in children and adolescents, as well as in adults. METHOD: A review of the literature published on the treatment of social phobia using cognitive-behavioral treatments was performed using the Medline database. RESULTS: A review of the literature suggests that social phobia is a chronic and prevalent condition, characterized by social inhibition and excessive shyness. Diagnosis and treatment of the disorder are usually determined by distress level and functional impairment. Population studies indicate that lifetime prevalence rates for social phobia range from 2.5 to 13.3%. The main techniques used in cognitive-behavioral therapy for social phobia are described and exemplified in a case report. CONCLUSIONS: There is a general consensus in the literature that cognitive-behavioral therapy is efficacious in the treatment of youth and adults with social phobia. Because of the early onset associated with social phobia, the identification of children at high risk for the development of social phobia should be prioritized in future investigations.

Terapia cognitivo-comportamental da fobia social / Cognitive-behavioral therapy in social phobia

OBJETIVO: Este artigo revisa aspectos relevantes da fobia social e os estágios de tratamento através da terapia cognitivo-comportamental em crianças, adolescentes e adultos. MÉTODO: A partir do banco de dados Medline, realizou-se revisão da literatura publicada a respeito do tratamento da fobia social por meio da terapia cognitivo-comportamental. RESULTADOS: Revisão da literatura sugere que a fobia social é uma condição prevalente e crônica, caracterizada por inibição social e timidez excessiva. Tanto o diagnóstico como o tratamento desse transtorno são comumente determinados pelo nível de incômodo e pelo prejuízo funcional. Estudos populacionais indicam taxas de prevalência ao longo da vida para a fobia social entre 2,5 e 13,3 por cento. As principais técnicas utilizadas na terapia cognitivo-comportamental para a fobia social são descritas e exemplificadas em um relato de caso. CONCLUSÕES: Há consenso geral na literatura de que a terapia cognitivo-comportamental é eficaz tanto para o tratamento de jovens como de adultos com fobia social. Uma vez que a fobia social com freqüência tem início precoce, a identificação de crianças com risco acentuado para o desenvolvimento de fobia social deve ser priorizada em investigações futuras.

OBJECTIVE: This article reviews relevant aspects of social phobia and the stages of treatment within cognitive-behavioral therapy in children and adolescents, as well as in adults. METHOD: A review of the literature published on the treatment of social phobia using cognitive-behavioral treatments was performed using the Medline database. RESULTS: A review of the literature suggests that social phobia is a chronic and prevalent condition, characterized by social inhibition and excessive shyness. Diagnosis and treatment of the disorder are usually determined by distress level and functional impairment. Population studies indicate that lifetime prevalence rates for social phobia range from 2.5 to 13.3 percent. The main techniques used in cognitive-behavioral therapy for social phobia are described and exemplified in a case report. CONCLUSIONS: There is a general consensus in the literature that cognitive-behavioral therapy is efficacious in the treatment of youth and adults with social phobia. Because of the early onset associated with social phobia, the identification of children at high risk for the development of social phobia should be prioritized in future investigations.

Group cognitive-behavioral therapy versus sertraline for the treatment of children and adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of group cognitive-behavioral therapy (GCBT) and of sertraline in treatment-naïve children and adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder. METHOD: Between 2000 and 2002, 40 subjects between 9 and 17 years old were randomized to receive GCBT (n = 20) or sertraline (n = 20). GCBT consisted of a manual-based 12-week cognitive-behavioral protocol adapted for groups, and treatment with sertraline involved medication intake for 12 weeks. Subjects were assessed before, during, and after treatment (at 1, 3, 6, and 9 months after treatment conclusion). Primary outcome measure was the Children's Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale. Repeated-measures analyses of variance were done. RESULTS: Both GCBT and sertraline conditions had significant improvement in obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms as measured by the Children's Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale after 12 weeks of treatment. After the 9-month follow-up period, subjects in the GCBT condition had a significantly lower rate of symptom relapse than those in the sertraline group. CONCLUSIONS: The treatment with GCBT may be effective in decreasing obsessive-compulsive symptoms in childhood obsessive-compulsive disorder and should be considered as an alternative to either individual cognitive-behavioral therapy or a medication, such as sertraline. Results support the effectiveness and the maintenance of gains of GCBT in the treatment of youngsters with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Obsessive-compulsive symptoms among patients with Sydenham chorea.

BACKGROUND: Among patients with tic disorders, a distinctive clinical profile of obsessive-compulsive symptomatology has been described. The present investigation was designed to document the phenomenology of obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) among patients with Sydenham chorea (SC), the neurologic variant of rheumatic fever. We hypothesized that OCS occurring in association with SC would be similar to those among patients with tic disorders. METHODS: The authors studied the presence of OCS in 73 patients with SC by using the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale at the Pediatric Clinics of the University of Sao Paulo Medical Center in Sao Paulo, Brazil (n = 45) and at the National Institute of Mental Health in Bethesda, Maryland (n = 28). RESULTS: The most frequent symptoms observed among subjects with comorbid SC and OCS were aggressive, contamination, and somatic obsessions and checking, cleaning, and repeating compulsions. A principal component factor analysis yielded a five-factor solution (accounting for 64.5% of the total variance), with contamination and symmetry obsessions and cleaning compulsions loading highly. CONCLUSIONS: The symptoms observed among the SC patients were different from those reported by patients with tic disorders but were similar to those previously noted among samples of pediatric patients with primary obsessive-compulsive disorder.

[Anxiety disorders in childhood and adolescence: clinical and neurobiological aspects]. / Transtornos ansiosos na infância e adolescência: aspectos clínicos e neurobiológicos.

OBJECTIVE: This article reviews the clinical and epidemiological aspects of anxiety disorders in youngsters, as well as current medical and psychological treatment strategies. The role of the neurobiological models possibly involved in the etiology of these disorders is also discussed. SOURCES OF DATA: MEDLINE search of papers published in English from 1981 to 2003. The following key words were used: anxiety disorders, neurobiology, childhood, adolescence. SUMMARY OF THE FINDINGS: Childhood-onset anxiety disorders are among the most frequent psychiatric conditions in children and adolescents. Epidemiological data estimate a prevalence of 10% in this population. The neurobiological models involved in the etiology of anxiety disorders in youngsters are closely related to neuroimaging studies with individuals presenting these pathologies. The role of the amygdala in the pathophysiology of these disorders is underscored. To be effective, treatment must combine several interventions, such as cognitive-behavioral, family, and, frequently, drug treatments. CONCLUSIONS: Early identification and prompt treatment of anxiety disorders may prevent negative consequences, such as school absenteeism and frequent and unnecessary visits to pediatric services due to somatic complaints related to anxiety disorders. Moreover, it is possible that psychiatric problems could be avoided or attenuated in adulthood.