Ansiedade na adolescência e famílias. Um tratamento cognitivo – comportamental em grupo

Anxiety Disorders are one of the most prevalence Mental Health conditions, with increasing incidence in the pediatric age and implications in intrafamily relationships. According to Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), group treatment for this disorders is an empirically validated and effective approach, with benefits in family integration. We evaluate the efficacy and maintenance of the anxious symptomatology remission at the initial and final moments of the treatment, and at 6-month follow-up, integrating caregivers into this treatment. An longitudinal and prospective study was carried, with eigth adolescentes and families. 86% female, aged 14 to 17 years (M = 17.6, SD = 1.06), followed in the Psychology Consultation of the Adolescent Medicine Unit of Hospital de Santa Maria. The evaluation protocol included a Structured Clinical Interview (ADIS-C), self (MASC, SCAS, BSQ, CDI and YSR) and hetero - evaluation (CBCL) questionnaires, for anxious and/or depressive symptomatology. In 16 sessions, using the Treatment Manual translated and adapted to Portuguese population, this intervention was innovative as we integrated a session with caregivers. On the initial evaluation of the symptomatology, results reveal high levels of Generalized Anxiety, Somatic Symptoms and Fear of Physical Damage, moderate depressive symptomatology, as well as a tendency, by the adolescentes to overvaluate the symptomatology comparatively with the caregivers assessment. After intragroup analysis, we noticed a progressive remission of the symptoms by 71% of the therapeutic group. CBT proves to be a more cost-effective alternative. The group demonstrates the generalization of coping strategies acquired, with large gain in integrating families.