Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 24, 2026

Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Hyperscanning Study in Psychological Counseling
Published on: January 17, 2025
Genome-wide association study of response to cognitive-behavioural therapy in children with anxiety disorders
Jonathan R I Coleman1, Kathryn J Lester1, Robert Keers1
1Jonathan R. I. Coleman, MSc, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry (SGDP) Centre, UK; Kathryn J. Lester, DPhil, King's College London, IoPPN, MRC SGDP Centre, UK, and School of Psychology, University of Sussex, UK; Robert Keers, PhD, Susanna Roberts, MSc, King's College London, IoPPN, MRC SGDP Centre, UK; Charles Curtis, MSc, King's College London, IoPPN, MRC SGDP Centre, UK, and National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre, South London and Maudsley National Health Service Trust, UK; Kristian Arendt, PhD, Department of Psychology and Behavioural Sciences, Aarhus University, Denmark; Susan Bögels, PhD, Research Institute Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Peter Cooper, DPhil, School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, UK, and Department of Psychology, Stellenbosch University, South Africa; Cathy Creswell, DClinPsy, PhD, School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, UK; Tim Dalgleish, PhD, MRC Cognition & Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge, UK; Catharina A. Hartman, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands; Einar R. Heiervang, PhD, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway; Katrin Hötzel, PhD, Department of Psychology, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany; Jennifer L. Hudson, PhD, Centre for Emotional Health, Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia; Tina In-Albon, PhD, Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, Universität Koblenz-Landau, Germany; Kristen Lavallee, PhD, Department of Psychology, University of Basel, Switzerland; Heidi J. Lyneham, PhD, Centre for Emotional Health, Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia; Carla E. Marin, PhD, Yale University, Child Study Center, New Haven, Connecticut, USA; Richard Meiser-S
Background:
Anxiety disorders are common, and cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) is a first-line treatment. Candidate gene studies have suggested a genetic basis to treatment response, but findings have been inconsistent.
Aims:
To perform the first genome-wide association study (GWAS) of psychological treatment response in children with anxiety disorders (n = 980).
Method:
Presence and severity of anxiety was assessed using semi-structured interview at baseline, on completion of treatment (post-treatment), and 3 to 12 months after treatment completion (follow-up). DNA was genotyped using the Illumina Human Core Exome-12v1.0 array. Linear mixed models were used to test associations between genetic variants and response (change in symptom severity) immediately post-treatment and at 6-month follow-up.
Results:
No variants passed a genome-wide significance threshold (P = 5 × 10(-8)) in either analysis. Four variants met criteria for suggestive significance (P<5 × 10(-6)) in association with response post-treatment, and three variants in the 6-month follow-up analysis.
Conclusions:
This is the first genome-wide therapygenetic study. It suggests no common variants of very high effect underlie response to CBT. Future investigations should maximise power to detect single-variant and polygenic effects by using larger, more homogeneous cohorts.
Related Concept Videos
Behavior Therapy
Exposure therapy is a cornerstone of behavioral treatment for anxiety disorders. It involves systematic exposure to feared stimuli, either in real...
Cognitive Therapy
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Anxiety: Overview
Individuals with anxiety often experience a range of physical and emotional symptoms, including sweating, trembling, tachycardia, and disturbances in sleep patterns. These symptoms vary in intensity and frequency but are generally disruptive and distressing.
Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy
Behavioral Genetics and Its Designs
The primary methodologies used in behavior genetics include family studies, twin studies, and adoption studies, each providing unique...

