Prevention Strategies

Abstract

Notes that significant progress has been made in the development of effective treatment approaches to child anxiety. Although such treatments are highly effective for the majority of children it would be preferable to prevent the development of child anxiety disorders before they become well established. However, there are several prerequisites for effective prevention including: an empirically based, tested model of the etiology of the problem that identifies risk and protective factors; a reliable and valid method of identifying children at risk; effective methods for reducing risk and enhancing protective factors; and the opportunity to apply these methods in practice. Risk factors, intrinsic child characteristics, extrinsic influences, interactive risk factors, and protective factors are discussed from this perspective. An integrative developmental model for prevention is presented. Findings of studies on the early intervention and indicated prevention with children showing early symptoms of anxiety disorder, the prevention of anxiety in the children of anxious parents, children with a behavioral inhibitive temperament style, and those with other risk factors for anxiety are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)