A pilot study on the effectiveness of a school-based cognitive-behavioral anxiety intervention for 8- and 9-year-old children: A controlled trial in Japan

Abstract Introduction Many universal school-based preventative intervention trials for anxiety have been conducted in Western countries. This pilot study examined the efficacy and acceptability of a school-based, universal preventative program for anxiety among children aged 8–9 years in Japan. The program was based on cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and was informed by similar universal programs (i.e., the Fun FRIENDS program; Barrett, 2007a, 2007b). Methods Seventy-four children from a single school were allocated to an intervention or control group. The intervention comprised 10 CBT sessions, and assessments were conducted before and after the program. The primary outcome measure was the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale (SCAS) as children's self-report. Secondary outcome measures were the Depression Self-Rating Scale for Children (DSRS-C), Children's Hope Scale (Hope), Spence Children's Anxiety Scale-Parent Version (SCAS-P), and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire-Parent Version (SDQ-P). Results The SCAS as the primary outcome showed no significant differences between the two groups. In addition, DSRS-C, Hope and SDQ-P also showed no significant differences. SCAS-P in the intervention group showed significant decrease compared to those in the control group. Conclusion The results of this trial study suggest that a school-based universal preventative program for anxiety may have no significant effects on 8–9-year-old children. Trial registration UMIN-CTR Identifier UMIN000008798.