Parental psychopathology, parental anxiety, family functioning and childhood anxiety treatment outcome in an enhanced cognitive-behavioral therapy intervention with parent training component

This study aimed to examine the association between parental and familial factors and child treatment outcome during a child-focused anxiety disorder treatment with parental training component. The sample included in this study consisted of 66 youth, ages 7-17, diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Social Phobia, or Separation Anxiety Disorder, along with at least one participating parent. Therapists were assigned to both parent and child in an enhanced CBT program based in the Texas Child Study Center, in Austin. The investigator examined parental psychopathology, as measured by self-report, parental anxiety, as measured by self-report, family functioning, as measured by parent-report, and child treatment outcome, as measured by an independent evaluator. Linear regressions were conducted to determine: (1) whether parental psychopathology, parental anxiety, or family functioning predict child anxiety treatment outcome in a CBT child-focused anxiety program with parent training component; (2) whether family functioning moderates the possible effect of parental psychopathology on child treatment outcome; and (3) whether family functioning moderates the possible effect of parental anxiety on child treatment outcome. Analyses showed no significant findings for the above questions; however, post-hoc and supplemental analyses showed interesting results. Post-hoc analyses showed parental anxiety and family functioning positively correlated. Family functioning and child treatment outcome also showed significant correlations. Additionally, both parental psychopathology and parental anxiety showed significant improvement during the course of treatment. Finally, when scrutinized by subscale, the family factors of Task Accomplishment and Communication predicted child treatment outcome. Despite a small sample size, this study holds important implications for future research and clinical practice for those working with youth with anxiety disorders. Results show child improvement despite parent and family variables in a CBT program with parent training component. However, results suggest that certain variables within the overall family functioning construct hold more predictive value over others and should be investigated further in their contributions to child improvement during treatment. Investigating parent and family factors which may impact child treatment will help in determining the best forms of treatment (individual versus family, etc.) for individual children and their families.