Treatment for CHILDRENS Anxiety Disorders

Treatment for Children’s Anxiety Disorders
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Treatment for Children’s Anxiety Disorders
Childhood anxiety disorders are common psychiatric problems in children that lead to severe impairment as well as excessive stress (Nieuwenhuys & Oudejans, 2011). There are various treatment options for anxiety disorders. However, I believe that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the most effective treatment option for anxiety disorders among children. CBT is based on the idea that people’s thoughts, attitudes, beliefs and the way they act affects how they feel. Thus, by changing distorted thinking and dysfunctional behavior, we may change our emotions. The idea is basically to unlearn avoidant behavior. Research for over 20 years has suggested that CBT is the most effective option for reducing symptoms attributed to severe anxiety (Bubrick, 2018). Unlike taking medication, this therapy gives kids the tools for managing the problem, both now and in the future. Consequently, the treatments usually are of shorter duration with results more enduring than other treatment methods.
The CBT treatment teaches the patients how to develop coping skills required to deal with the issues that they face effectively. Unlike other forms of therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy deals with the current problem. It provides practical ways of improving the patient’s state of mind by breaking the vicious circle of bad thoughts and feelings. Experts argue that CBT consists of the most clinical evidence that suggests that it works (Bubrick, 2018).

It can be effective like taking medication to treat disorders, and on top of that, it doesn’t have side effects that some medications do. The other reason why CBT is the most effective option is that it addresses the process commonly known as negative reinforcement. For instance, a person with a public-speaking phobia may decide to avoid situations that would require them to speak publicly. Avoiding such situations may reduce their anxiety levels in the short term, but in reality, this person is actually reinforcing their phobia by avoiding it. However, CBT helps a patient to unlearn the patterns which cause anxiety disorders and phobias by progressively confronting which scare them and realizing that nothing terrible actually happens. Thus, it retrains their brains not to fear anymore.
Behavior modeling is the treatment option that I believe is the least effective. It is based on the procedure which involves the use of symbolic or live models to demonstrate a certain behavior, attitude or thought that the patient might want to change or acquire (Nelson & Allen, 2007). It is the precise demonstration of the desired behaviors. In the therapeutic setting, modeling is positive and purposeful, teaching children healthier ways to behave. It is often used in helping patients change the previously learned negative behavior. However, behavior modeling also can be harmful such as teaching children to use drugs or parents passing on prejudiced ways of dealing with others. The treatment option is less effective because it doesn’t allow learning differences, differences in genetics and brain functioning. Some critics argue that it is an explanation for violent behaviors.
Behavior modeling is only beneficial in the short term learning when used alone. Modeling alone is unlikely to bring long-term changes in behavior unless accompanied y role-play or reinforcements like rewards. The modeling option for treating anxiety disorders can be used to try and help children with anxiety, phobia and other mental conditions. However, when it does not achieve the desired outcome or changes, they should be advised to try different techniques to assist them to overcome their problems. Some behavioral modification approaches are also more successful for certain patients.Reference
Bubrick, J. (2018). Behavioral Treatment for Kids With Anxiety. Childmind Journal, 2(1). https://childmind.org/article/behavioral-treatment-kids-anxiety/
Nelson, R., & Allen, W. (2007). Abnormal child and adolescent psychology. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
Nieuwenhuys, A., & Oudejans, R. (2011). “Anxiety and perceptual-motor performance: toward an integrated model of concepts, mechanisms, and processes.” Psychological Research, 76(6), 747-759. doi: 10.1007/s00426-011-0384-x