Question

Children (aged 8 – 14 years) with anxiety disorders were randomly assigned to cognitivebehavioral individual treatment, cognitive-behavioral group treatment, or a wait-list control. Treatment outcome was evaluated using diagnostic status, child self- reports, and parent- and teacher-reports. Analyses of diagnostic status revealed that significantly more treated children (73% individual, 50% group) than wait-list children (8%) did not meet diagnostic criteria for their primary anxiety disorder at post-treatment. Other dependent measures demonstrated the superiority of both treatment conditions compared to the wait-list condition. However, a childreport of anxious distress demonstrated only the individual treatment to effect significant improvement. Measures of social functioning failed to discriminate among conditions. Analyses of clinical significance revealed that notable proportions for treated cases were returned to nondeviant limits at post-treatment. Treatment gains were maintained at a 3-month follow-up.

a. Study Design

b. Exposure

c. Outcome

d. Advantage

Answer 1

a. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial (RCT)

In a randomized controlled trial (RCT) the study participants are allocated at random for one of several clinical interventions. The control group is the participants who receive no interventions or placebo treatment.

Cases: Children (aged 8 – 14 years) with anxiety disorders were randomly assigned to cognitive behavioural individual treatment, cognitive-behavioural group treatment

Control: Children (aged 8 – 14 years) with anxiety disorders were randomly assigned as control

b. Exposure: cognitive behavioural individual treatment, cognitive-behavioural group treatment

The variable used to predict the outcome variable is the exposure, independent variable or explanatory variable.

c. Outcome: Analyses of diagnostic status revealed that significantly more treated children (73% individual, 50% group) than wait-list children (8%) did not meet diagnostic criteria for their primary anxiety disorder at post-treatment.

Outcomes are defined before the study is started.

The cognitive behavioural individual treatment, cognitive-behavioural group treatment has an influence on managing anxiety in the cases compared to the controls not received the treatment.

d. Advantage

Notable proportions for treated cases were returned to nondeviant limits at post-treatment