OBJECTIVES: To review the magnitude and duration of and factors associated with effects of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for anxiety disorders in older people. DESIGN: Electronic literature databases and the Cochrane Trials Registry were searched for articles. A systematic critical review, random-effects meta-analysis, and meta-regression of randomized controlled trials were conducted. SETTING: Community outpatient clinics. PARTICIPANTS: People with diagnoses of anxiety disorders. MEASUREMENTS: Outcome measures of anxiety and depression. RESULTS: Twelve studies were included. CBT was significantly more effective than treatment as usual or being on a waiting list at reducing anxiety symptoms at 0-month follow-up, with the effect size being moderate, but when CBT was compared with an active control condition, the between-group difference in favor of CBT was not statistically significant, and the effect size was small. At 6- but not 3- or 12-month follow-up, CBT was significantly more effective at reducing anxiety symptoms than an active control condition, although the effect size was again small. Meta-regression analyses revealed only one factor (type of control group) to be significantly associated with the magnitude of effect sizes. CONCLUSION: The review confirms the effectiveness of CBT for anxiety disorders in older people but is suggestive of lower efficacy in older than working-age people. The small effect sizes in favor of CBT over an active control condition illustrate the need to investigate other treatment approaches that may be used to substitute or augment CBT to increase the effectiveness of treatment of anxiety disorders in older people.
OBJECTIVES: To review the magnitude and duration of and factors associated with effects of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for anxiety disorders in older people. DESIGN: Electronic literature databases and the Cochrane Trials Registry were searched for articles. A systematic critical review, random-effects meta-analysis, and meta-regression of randomized controlled trials were conducted. SETTING: Community outpatient clinics. PARTICIPANTS: People with diagnoses of anxiety disorders. MEASUREMENTS: Outcome measures of anxiety and depression. RESULTS: Twelve studies were included. CBT was significantly more effective than treatment as usual or being on a waiting list at reducing anxiety symptoms at 0-month follow-up, with the effect size being moderate, but when CBT was compared with an active control condition, the between-group difference in favor of CBT was not statistically significant, and the effect size was small. At 6- but not 3- or 12-month follow-up, CBT was significantly more effective at reducing anxiety symptoms than an active control condition, although the effect size was again small. Meta-regression analyses revealed only one factor (type of control group) to be significantly associated with the magnitude of effect sizes. CONCLUSION: The review confirms the effectiveness of CBT for anxiety disorders in older people but is suggestive of lower efficacy in older than working-age people. The small effect sizes in favor of CBT over an active control condition illustrate the need to investigate other treatment approaches that may be used to substitute or augment CBT to increase the effectiveness of treatment of anxiety disorders in older people.
Authors: Nimali Jayasinghe; Martha A Sparks; Kaori Kato; Kaitlyn Wilbur; Sandy B Ganz; Gabrielle R Chiaramonte; Bradford L Stevens; Philip S Barie; Mark S Lachs; Michael O'Dell; Arthur T Evans; Martha L Bruce; JoAnn Difede Journal: Cogn Behav Pract Date: 2014-11-01
Authors: Emily Carl; Sara M Witcraft; Brooke Y Kauffman; Eilis M Gillespie; Eni S Becker; Pim Cuijpers; Michael Van Ameringen; Jasper A J Smits; Mark B Powers Journal: Cogn Behav Ther Date: 2019-02-14
Authors: Julie Loebach Wetherell; Andrew J Petkus; Steven R Thorp; Murray B Stein; Denise A Chavira; Laura Campbell-Sills; Michelle G Craske; Cathy Sherbourne; Alexander Bystritsky; Greer Sullivan; Peter Roy-Byrne Journal: Br J Psychiatry Date: 2013-04-11 Impact factor: 9.319
Authors: Martin A Katzman; Pierre Bleau; Pierre Blier; Pratap Chokka; Kevin Kjernisted; Michael Van Ameringen; Martin M Antony; Stéphane Bouchard; Alain Brunet; Martine Flament; Sophie Grigoriadis; Sandra Mendlowitz; Kieron O'Connor; Kiran Rabheru; Peggy M A Richter; Melisa Robichaud; John R Walker Journal: BMC Psychiatry Date: 2014-07-02 Impact factor: 3.630
Authors: Christopher B Rosnick; Julie L Wetherell; Kamila S White; Carmen Andreescu; David Dixon; Eric J Lenze Journal: J Consult Clin Psychol Date: 2016-02-15