Targeting parental psychopathology in child anxiety

Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2012 Jul;21(3):669-89. doi: 10.1016/j.chc.2012.05.007. Epub 2012 Jun 12.

Abstract

The increased risk of anxiety in children of parents with psychopathology is a significant public health problem, as early-onset is associated with a variety of difficulties later in life. The aim of this article is to determine if treating parents is associated with improvements in child anxiety through the review of both top-down (parent identified for treatment) and family-focused child anxiety treatment studies. The authors present conclusions based on the state of the current literature, discuss implications for research and clinical practice, and propose utilizing a family-based model for treating parental psychopathology, parental behavior, and child anxiety.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anxiety Disorders / psychology
  • Anxiety Disorders / therapy*
  • Child
  • Child of Impaired Parents / psychology*
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / methods
  • Depressive Disorder / psychology
  • Depressive Disorder / therapy*
  • Family Therapy / methods*
  • Humans
  • Parent-Child Relations*
  • Parents*
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care / statistics & numerical data
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Risk Factors
  • Treatment Outcome