Treatment of pathological worry in children with 'third wave' behavioural therapy and a multisensory learning model : a pilot study

Abstract

One purpose of the present research was to investigate the efficacy of a 'third wave' Acceptance Based Behavaioural Therapy (ABBT) in reducing worry and symptoms of anxiety in children. A second purpose was to investigate the efficacy of incorporation of a multisensory learning model into treatment. A multisensory learning model introducing kinesthetic, visual, and tactile stimulus was hypothesized to increase treatment outcomes of an ABBT. It was also hypothesized that reduction in reported levels of anxiety and worry would be associated with both a reduction in measures of experiential avoidance and fusion, and an increase in measures of acceptance and mindfulness. 'Third wave' anxiety treatment approaches have shown promise with adult populations but have been scarcely used with child populations (Swain, 2013). Two variations of an Acceptance Based Behavioural Therapy were administered over 8 weeks to children between 7-11 years of age. One ABBT treatment condition incorporated the multisensory learning model. A second ABBT treatment condition did not incorporate the multisensory learning model. Measures of symptomology were measured both pre-treatment and post-treatment. Worry was measured by administration of the Penn State Worry Questionnaire "" Child Adaptation (PSWQ-C) to participants. Symptoms of anxiety were measured by administration of both child report and parent report versions of the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale (SCAS). Parents were also administered the Strengths and Difficulties behavioural screening questionnaire (SDQ). Mindfulness was measured by the Child Acceptance and Mindfulness Measure (CAMM). Experiential avoidance and cognitive fusion was measured by the Avoidance and Fusion Questionnaire for Youth (AFQ-Y). Anecdotal information about the parent's experience of the treatment program was collected via distribution of a parent treatment evaluation form. Primary outcome variables of the research were the PSWQ-C and the child version of the SCAS. Measures of children's anxiety and worry by the parent version of the SCAS and PSWQ-C were significantly reduced with small- moderate and moderate-large effect sizes respectively. Inclusion of the multisensory learning model did not reveal significant differences in treatment outcome. Qualitative data indicated that the multisensory learning model was valued by parents as effective in helping their children understand concepts of acceptance, defusion, and meta-cognition. Surprisingly, treatment effects were not associated with decreases in measures of experiential avoidance and fusion, nor increases in measures of acceptance and mindfulness. Implications of the research are discussed including the efficacy of third wave behaviour therapy with children, clinical application of the therapeutic learning model, and considerations regarding measurement of experiential avoidance, fusion, acceptance, and mindfulness in young children.

Date of Award	2015
Original language	English