[Group Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Intervention for Anxious Adolescents]

Anxiety disorders are often diagnosed in adolescents (7%) and children (6.5%), yet most of them do not receive adequate psychotherapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a proven effective first-line treatment for anxiety disorders. Our aim was to develop an eight-session group CBT intervention adapted for adolescent population with anxiety symptoms, focusing on reducing cognitive distortions and avoidance behaviours and associated physical symptoms.

The participants (N= 51, age group: 15-20 ys.) were diagnosed with anxiety and comorbid mood disorders. Groups of 8-12 patients were formed to apply group CBT. To assess the effectiveness of CBT, the following questionnaires were administered before and after the intervention: BDI, STAI-S, RSES-H, BHS, CERQ, FNE-8, Non-productive Thought Q. (NPTQ-C). Paired-sample and independent sample t-test were used for statistical analysis of the results.

Anxiety (t(50)=3.82; p<0.001), depressive symptoms (t(49)=4.09; p<0.001) and fear of negative appraisal (t(50)=3.15; p=0.001) were significantly decreased after therapy. In addition, there were reductions in unproductive thoughts (t(49)=3.47; p<0.001), hopelessness (t(50)=1.69; p=0.049), while self-esteem increased (t(49)=-1.76; p=0.042). Baseline levels of depressive symptoms differed significantly between anxiety-only and comorbid groups (t(48)=-2.016; p=0.049), while not between final scores.

In our country, we were the first to examine brief, group CBT to reduce anxiety disorders in adolescents. We found that group CBT reduced patients' anxiety, depression, self-esteem and hopelessness, and the presence of comorbid disorders did not reduce the effectiveness of the intervention. These findings support the method's broader application in Hungary.