Thompson Davis | Louisiana State University (original) (raw)
Papers by Thompson Davis
Springer eBooks, 2011
ABSTRACT
Springer eBooks, Nov 30, 2022
Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, Nov 24, 2012
There is a scarcity of research looking at how comorbid psychological disorders impact the assess... more There is a scarcity of research looking at how comorbid psychological disorders impact the assessment of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The present study aimed to extend the literature in this area by evaluating rates of comorbid symptoms in both children with ASD and those with attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Children with ASD, ADHD, or no psychological diagnosis participated in this study. Internalizing and externalizing symptoms were assessed with the Autism Spectrum Disorders-Comorbidity for Children (ASD-CC). Multivariate and univariate main effect analyses with post-hoc comparisons were then conducted. Children with ASD evinced higher rates of comorbid symptoms than children with ADHD. Additionally, both children with ASD and those with ADHD exhibited more comorbid symptoms than children without a psychological disorder. These findings are in accordance with previous research and support the need for broadband assessment of psychiatric conditions in children presenting with developmental delays or externalizing behaviors. Other implications of these findings are discussed.
Behavior Therapy, Sep 1, 2008
One-Session Treatment (OST) is a form of massed exposure therapy for the treatment of specific ph... more One-Session Treatment (OST) is a form of massed exposure therapy for the treatment of specific phobias. OST combines exposure, participant modeling, cognitive challenges, and reinforcement in a single session, maximized to three hours. Clients are gradually exposed to steps of their fear hierarchy using therapist-directed behavioral experiments. Although there are several studies in the literature examining the efficacy of OST, little has been done to summarize this research. In the following review, research on and empirical support for OST are reviewed with an emphasis on the types of stimuli, samples, and methodologies utilized. Research generally supports OST's efficacy, although replication by independent examiners using adult and child samples is needed using more rigorous comparisons (e.g., psychological placebo or other treatments). Overall, OST continues to be a promising treatment for specific phobias; however, a great deal more investigation is needed to identify mechanisms of change, mediators, and moderators.
ADHD Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders, 2019
Although anxiety and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms are highly comorbid... more Although anxiety and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms are highly comorbid, research has generally examined the executive functioning (EF) deficits associated with each of these symptoms independently. The purpose of this study was to examine the unique and interactive effects of anxiety and ADHD symptoms (first respectively, then collectively) on multiple dimensions of EF (i.e., inhibition, updating, and shifting, respectively). A sample of 142 youth from the community (age range 8-17 years; M age = 11.87 ± 2.94 years) completed the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System and dimensional measures of anxiety, inattention, and hyperactivity/impulsivity. It was hypothesized that anxiety would moderate the effect of ADHD symptomatology on EF. Multiple regression models examined anxiety and ADHD symptom domains as predictors of EF. When examining ADHD symptom domains separately, anxiety moderated the relationship between inattention and both updating and shifting; the association between hyperactivity/impulsivity and updating was also moderated by anxiety. Within the full model including both ADHD symptom domains, results indicated that anxiety moderated the relationship between inattention and shifting. Analyses of ADHD symptoms in separate and combined models demonstrated a similar pattern: Increased inattention was associated with worse EF and when anxiety was a significant moderator, and increased ADHD symptoms were associated with worse EF only for those with high levels of anxiety. These results highlight the utility of including anxiety in studies examining the relationship between ADHD and EF. EF is related to multiple aspects of daily functioning (e.g., academic achievement), and EF deficits are often targeted in interventions for ADHD.
Treatments for Psychological Problems and Syndromes, 2017
Journal of Attention Disorders, Aug 3, 2012
Objective: The following comorbid subgroups of ADHD have been proposed: ADHD Only, ADHD + anxiety... more Objective: The following comorbid subgroups of ADHD have been proposed: ADHD Only, ADHD + anxiety disorders (ANX), ADHD + oppositional defiant disorder/conduct disorder (ODD/CD), and ADHD + ODD/CD + ANX. The current study examined a subset of these groups. Method: A total of 134 children and adolescents ( M age = 9.92; range = 6-17) from a clinic-referred sample ( n = 407) were grouped based on a semistructured diagnostic interview: ADHD only ( n = 41), ADHD + ANX ( n = 31), and ANX Only ( n = 62). Results: Findings supported greater parent-reported anxiety symptoms in anxiety groups, and greater parent- and teacher-reported attention problems in ADHD groups. ADHD groups performed worse on a continuous performance test, whereas ADHD + ANX performed worse on working memory than ADHD Only. ADHD + ANX reported more physical anxiety symptoms than ADHD Only. Conclusion: Comorbid anxiety should be considered in ADHD assessment and treatment.
Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, Feb 22, 2008
Abstract Intellectual and achievement deficits associated with childhood anxiety disorders are of... more Abstract Intellectual and achievement deficits associated with childhood anxiety disorders are of considerable controversy. Part of this controversy and inconsistency in findings appears related to methodological differences in studies: anxiety disorders are defined as ...
Springer eBooks, Aug 5, 2009
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-4th edition (DSM-IV-TR, Am... more According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-4th edition (DSM-IV-TR, American Psychiatric Association, 2000) there are more than a dozen anxiety disorders and phobias which can be diagnosed in children. Most of these disorders include a ...
Behavioral avoidance tasks (BATs) have been used for decades in the assessment of specific phobia... more Behavioral avoidance tasks (BATs) have been used for decades in the assessment of specific phobias, but they also involve a number of prohibitive difficulties. This study investigated a new imaginal/self-report instrument, the Behavioral Avoidance Task Using Imaginal Exposure (BATIE), and evaluated whether it was an efficient paper-and-pencil alternative. Forty-nine adults diagnosed with specific phobias were matched to 49 participants without those particular phobias who served as control participants. The participants were 89.8% female and 79.6% Caucasian and had a mean age of 20.81 years (SD ϭ 3.62). Diagnosis was determined using the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule (Brown, DiNardo, & Barlow, 1994). Participants completed a BAT following a BATIE. Results indicated BATIE ratings significantly correlated with BAT performance and ratings. Significant differences were also found between the phobic and control groups on all BATIE ratings (all differences indicated poorer performance or more fear in those with specific phobias). Also, the BATIE scores demonstrated good evidence of convergent and discriminant validity compared to other self-reports, significantly predicted BAT performance even when controlling for those measures of fear and anxiety, and significantly predicted diagnostic severity ratings. Overall, results indicated that the BATIE may be a reasonable alternative to in vivo BATs in certain situations (e.g., clinical practice, unavailability of BAT stimuli).
Autism and child psychopathology series, 2014
This chapter examines the diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and specific phobia, their ... more This chapter examines the diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and specific phobia, their potential comorbidity, and assessment and treatment recommendations. Fear is an appropriate emotional response in certain situations. Problematic fear, however, in the form of a specific phobia is not. At times, it can be difficult to diagnose specific phobia in those with ASD, given the unique sensory experiences, rigidity, verbal deficiencies, and social, communication, and intellectual challenges frequently associated with an ASD diagnosis. For context, an overview of normal, healthy fear development is contrasted against the development and phenomenology of specific phobias in otherwise neurotypical individuals, followed by what is currently known about the development and phenomenology of specific phobia in individuals with ASD. Following brief recommendations for assessing and treating individuals with specific phobia comorbid with ASD, we conclude with commentary and thoughts on the future of these two diagnoses in the newly available Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5th edition (DSM-5; Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders).
Autism and child psychopathology series, 2012
In this chapter, we review evidence-based assessment and treatment for specific phobias in childr... more In this chapter, we review evidence-based assessment and treatment for specific phobias in children and adolescents (hereafter referred as children unless otherwise specified). For far too many years, the assessment and treatment of these disorders, and other childhood disorders, have been guided not by evidence but by particular theories, independent of the evidentiary support for them. In this chapter, we illustrate assessment and treatment practices that “work” and that have an ever-evolving evidence base for their use in clinical practice. In doing so, we hope to not only advance our understanding of specific phobias in children and their families but also to identify and promulgate effective interventions.
Springer eBooks, 2009
... Thompson E. Davis III, Erin V. Tarcza, and Melissa S. Munson ... resiliency has been associat... more ... Thompson E. Davis III, Erin V. Tarcza, and Melissa S. Munson ... resiliency has been associated with being a man, having less than a college education, not expe-riencing income decline from a disaster, and having more social support (Bonanno, Galea, Bucciarelli, & Vlahov ...
Journal of Traumatic Stress, Aug 1, 2010
Fear of anxiety has previously been found to be a predictor of overall symptoms of posttraumatic ... more Fear of anxiety has previously been found to be a predictor of overall symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The current exploratory study examines the relationship between fear of anxiety and symptoms of PTSD in a sample of adults exposed to Hurricane Katrina. Fear of anxiety was found to partially mediate the relationship between the severity of trauma and the severity of PTSD. Further, this mediation was found to operate differently by gender, with the mediation holding true for men but not for women. For both men and women, fear of anxiety was positively correlated with PTSD symptoms.
Psychological Assessment, Dec 1, 2013
Behavioral avoidance tasks (BATs) have been used for decades in the assessment of specific phobia... more Behavioral avoidance tasks (BATs) have been used for decades in the assessment of specific phobias, but they also involve a number of prohibitive difficulties. This study investigated a new imaginal/self-report instrument, the Behavioral Avoidance Task Using Imaginal Exposure (BATIE), and evaluated whether it was an efficient paper-and-pencil alternative. Forty-nine adults diagnosed with specific phobias were matched to 49 participants without those particular phobias who served as control participants. The participants were 89.8% female and 79.6% Caucasian and had a mean age of 20.81 years (SD ϭ 3.62). Diagnosis was determined using the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule (Brown, DiNardo, & Barlow, 1994). Participants completed a BAT following a BATIE. Results indicated BATIE ratings significantly correlated with BAT performance and ratings. Significant differences were also found between the phobic and control groups on all BATIE ratings (all differences indicated poorer performance or more fear in those with specific phobias). Also, the BATIE scores demonstrated good evidence of convergent and discriminant validity compared to other self-reports, significantly predicted BAT performance even when controlling for those measures of fear and anxiety, and significantly predicted diagnostic severity ratings. Overall, results indicated that the BATIE may be a reasonable alternative to in vivo BATs in certain situations (e.g., clinical practice, unavailability of BAT stimuli).
Behavior Modification, Jun 20, 2012
A host of factors including genetic influences, temperament characteristics, learning experiences... more A host of factors including genetic influences, temperament characteristics, learning experiences, information processing biases, parental psychopathology, and specific parenting practices have been hypothesized to contribute to the development and expression of children's phobias. In the present study, the authors focused on parental psychopathology (phobic anxiety) and parenting behaviors (warmth, involvement) in the prediction of child performance on a behavioral approach test (BAT). All children (n = 44) experienced a phobia of animals and were clinic referred. The youth completed two BATs: the first alone and the second one with a parent present. Overall, performance was greater on the parent-present BAT (58% of steps completed) than on the child-alone BAT (38% of steps completed), although considerable variability was present. Performance on the parent-present BAT was associated with parental warmth and involvement but not parental phobic anxiety. Implications of these findings were discussed, and their implications for the use of behavioral analogues tests were explored.
Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, Aug 1, 2009
One-session treatment (OST), a variant of cognitive-behavioral therapy, combines graduated in viv... more One-session treatment (OST), a variant of cognitive-behavioral therapy, combines graduated in vivo exposure, participant modeling, reinforcement, psychoeducation, cognitive challenges, and skills training in an intensive treatment model. Treatment is maximized to one 3-hour session. In this paper, we review the application of OST for specific phobia in youth and highlight practical matters related to OST and its use in a clinical setting. We also briefly review results of treatment outcome studies and suggest future directions for clinical research and practice. We conclude that OST is an efficient and efficacious treatment. It has been suggested that if a clinician is thinking about using cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with anxious youth the clinician should "think exposures" (Kendall et al., 2005). Beyond this initial advice, however, conducting exposure therapy with children and adolescents is more complicated than one might "think." Many questions are evident. What kind of exposure should be used (in vivo, in imagination, on audio/video tape, or in virtual reality)? Precisely what materials and stimuli will be needed? How will they be obtained? Where will they be kept? Can I do it myself or do I need an assistant? What length of exposure (i.e., brief or prolonged) should I use? At what dose (spaced or massed)? How does one plan and conduct an exposure? Does one need to get specialized training or supervision to ensure competence? As a result, "thinking exposure" with anxious youth is complicated and requires a rich understanding of developmental psychopathology and familiarity with increasingly intensive and efficacious treatment formats (cf. Davis, in press; Ollendick, Davis, & Sirbu, in press). In this paper, we will focus on a host of practical issues associated with using exposure therapy for the treatment of specific phobia in children and adolescents. In doing so, we briefly review the literature, which has brought exposure therapy for child phobia from a multi-session downward extension of adult therapy to a more developmentally informed, intensive, single
Clinical Psychology-science and Practice, 2004
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Springer eBooks, 2011
ABSTRACT
Springer eBooks, Nov 30, 2022
Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, Nov 24, 2012
There is a scarcity of research looking at how comorbid psychological disorders impact the assess... more There is a scarcity of research looking at how comorbid psychological disorders impact the assessment of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The present study aimed to extend the literature in this area by evaluating rates of comorbid symptoms in both children with ASD and those with attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Children with ASD, ADHD, or no psychological diagnosis participated in this study. Internalizing and externalizing symptoms were assessed with the Autism Spectrum Disorders-Comorbidity for Children (ASD-CC). Multivariate and univariate main effect analyses with post-hoc comparisons were then conducted. Children with ASD evinced higher rates of comorbid symptoms than children with ADHD. Additionally, both children with ASD and those with ADHD exhibited more comorbid symptoms than children without a psychological disorder. These findings are in accordance with previous research and support the need for broadband assessment of psychiatric conditions in children presenting with developmental delays or externalizing behaviors. Other implications of these findings are discussed.
Behavior Therapy, Sep 1, 2008
One-Session Treatment (OST) is a form of massed exposure therapy for the treatment of specific ph... more One-Session Treatment (OST) is a form of massed exposure therapy for the treatment of specific phobias. OST combines exposure, participant modeling, cognitive challenges, and reinforcement in a single session, maximized to three hours. Clients are gradually exposed to steps of their fear hierarchy using therapist-directed behavioral experiments. Although there are several studies in the literature examining the efficacy of OST, little has been done to summarize this research. In the following review, research on and empirical support for OST are reviewed with an emphasis on the types of stimuli, samples, and methodologies utilized. Research generally supports OST's efficacy, although replication by independent examiners using adult and child samples is needed using more rigorous comparisons (e.g., psychological placebo or other treatments). Overall, OST continues to be a promising treatment for specific phobias; however, a great deal more investigation is needed to identify mechanisms of change, mediators, and moderators.
ADHD Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders, 2019
Although anxiety and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms are highly comorbid... more Although anxiety and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms are highly comorbid, research has generally examined the executive functioning (EF) deficits associated with each of these symptoms independently. The purpose of this study was to examine the unique and interactive effects of anxiety and ADHD symptoms (first respectively, then collectively) on multiple dimensions of EF (i.e., inhibition, updating, and shifting, respectively). A sample of 142 youth from the community (age range 8-17 years; M age = 11.87 ± 2.94 years) completed the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System and dimensional measures of anxiety, inattention, and hyperactivity/impulsivity. It was hypothesized that anxiety would moderate the effect of ADHD symptomatology on EF. Multiple regression models examined anxiety and ADHD symptom domains as predictors of EF. When examining ADHD symptom domains separately, anxiety moderated the relationship between inattention and both updating and shifting; the association between hyperactivity/impulsivity and updating was also moderated by anxiety. Within the full model including both ADHD symptom domains, results indicated that anxiety moderated the relationship between inattention and shifting. Analyses of ADHD symptoms in separate and combined models demonstrated a similar pattern: Increased inattention was associated with worse EF and when anxiety was a significant moderator, and increased ADHD symptoms were associated with worse EF only for those with high levels of anxiety. These results highlight the utility of including anxiety in studies examining the relationship between ADHD and EF. EF is related to multiple aspects of daily functioning (e.g., academic achievement), and EF deficits are often targeted in interventions for ADHD.
Treatments for Psychological Problems and Syndromes, 2017
Journal of Attention Disorders, Aug 3, 2012
Objective: The following comorbid subgroups of ADHD have been proposed: ADHD Only, ADHD + anxiety... more Objective: The following comorbid subgroups of ADHD have been proposed: ADHD Only, ADHD + anxiety disorders (ANX), ADHD + oppositional defiant disorder/conduct disorder (ODD/CD), and ADHD + ODD/CD + ANX. The current study examined a subset of these groups. Method: A total of 134 children and adolescents ( M age = 9.92; range = 6-17) from a clinic-referred sample ( n = 407) were grouped based on a semistructured diagnostic interview: ADHD only ( n = 41), ADHD + ANX ( n = 31), and ANX Only ( n = 62). Results: Findings supported greater parent-reported anxiety symptoms in anxiety groups, and greater parent- and teacher-reported attention problems in ADHD groups. ADHD groups performed worse on a continuous performance test, whereas ADHD + ANX performed worse on working memory than ADHD Only. ADHD + ANX reported more physical anxiety symptoms than ADHD Only. Conclusion: Comorbid anxiety should be considered in ADHD assessment and treatment.
Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, Feb 22, 2008
Abstract Intellectual and achievement deficits associated with childhood anxiety disorders are of... more Abstract Intellectual and achievement deficits associated with childhood anxiety disorders are of considerable controversy. Part of this controversy and inconsistency in findings appears related to methodological differences in studies: anxiety disorders are defined as ...
Springer eBooks, Aug 5, 2009
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-4th edition (DSM-IV-TR, Am... more According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-4th edition (DSM-IV-TR, American Psychiatric Association, 2000) there are more than a dozen anxiety disorders and phobias which can be diagnosed in children. Most of these disorders include a ...
Behavioral avoidance tasks (BATs) have been used for decades in the assessment of specific phobia... more Behavioral avoidance tasks (BATs) have been used for decades in the assessment of specific phobias, but they also involve a number of prohibitive difficulties. This study investigated a new imaginal/self-report instrument, the Behavioral Avoidance Task Using Imaginal Exposure (BATIE), and evaluated whether it was an efficient paper-and-pencil alternative. Forty-nine adults diagnosed with specific phobias were matched to 49 participants without those particular phobias who served as control participants. The participants were 89.8% female and 79.6% Caucasian and had a mean age of 20.81 years (SD ϭ 3.62). Diagnosis was determined using the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule (Brown, DiNardo, & Barlow, 1994). Participants completed a BAT following a BATIE. Results indicated BATIE ratings significantly correlated with BAT performance and ratings. Significant differences were also found between the phobic and control groups on all BATIE ratings (all differences indicated poorer performance or more fear in those with specific phobias). Also, the BATIE scores demonstrated good evidence of convergent and discriminant validity compared to other self-reports, significantly predicted BAT performance even when controlling for those measures of fear and anxiety, and significantly predicted diagnostic severity ratings. Overall, results indicated that the BATIE may be a reasonable alternative to in vivo BATs in certain situations (e.g., clinical practice, unavailability of BAT stimuli).
Autism and child psychopathology series, 2014
This chapter examines the diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and specific phobia, their ... more This chapter examines the diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and specific phobia, their potential comorbidity, and assessment and treatment recommendations. Fear is an appropriate emotional response in certain situations. Problematic fear, however, in the form of a specific phobia is not. At times, it can be difficult to diagnose specific phobia in those with ASD, given the unique sensory experiences, rigidity, verbal deficiencies, and social, communication, and intellectual challenges frequently associated with an ASD diagnosis. For context, an overview of normal, healthy fear development is contrasted against the development and phenomenology of specific phobias in otherwise neurotypical individuals, followed by what is currently known about the development and phenomenology of specific phobia in individuals with ASD. Following brief recommendations for assessing and treating individuals with specific phobia comorbid with ASD, we conclude with commentary and thoughts on the future of these two diagnoses in the newly available Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5th edition (DSM-5; Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders).
Autism and child psychopathology series, 2012
In this chapter, we review evidence-based assessment and treatment for specific phobias in childr... more In this chapter, we review evidence-based assessment and treatment for specific phobias in children and adolescents (hereafter referred as children unless otherwise specified). For far too many years, the assessment and treatment of these disorders, and other childhood disorders, have been guided not by evidence but by particular theories, independent of the evidentiary support for them. In this chapter, we illustrate assessment and treatment practices that “work” and that have an ever-evolving evidence base for their use in clinical practice. In doing so, we hope to not only advance our understanding of specific phobias in children and their families but also to identify and promulgate effective interventions.
Springer eBooks, 2009
... Thompson E. Davis III, Erin V. Tarcza, and Melissa S. Munson ... resiliency has been associat... more ... Thompson E. Davis III, Erin V. Tarcza, and Melissa S. Munson ... resiliency has been associated with being a man, having less than a college education, not expe-riencing income decline from a disaster, and having more social support (Bonanno, Galea, Bucciarelli, & Vlahov ...
Journal of Traumatic Stress, Aug 1, 2010
Fear of anxiety has previously been found to be a predictor of overall symptoms of posttraumatic ... more Fear of anxiety has previously been found to be a predictor of overall symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The current exploratory study examines the relationship between fear of anxiety and symptoms of PTSD in a sample of adults exposed to Hurricane Katrina. Fear of anxiety was found to partially mediate the relationship between the severity of trauma and the severity of PTSD. Further, this mediation was found to operate differently by gender, with the mediation holding true for men but not for women. For both men and women, fear of anxiety was positively correlated with PTSD symptoms.
Psychological Assessment, Dec 1, 2013
Behavioral avoidance tasks (BATs) have been used for decades in the assessment of specific phobia... more Behavioral avoidance tasks (BATs) have been used for decades in the assessment of specific phobias, but they also involve a number of prohibitive difficulties. This study investigated a new imaginal/self-report instrument, the Behavioral Avoidance Task Using Imaginal Exposure (BATIE), and evaluated whether it was an efficient paper-and-pencil alternative. Forty-nine adults diagnosed with specific phobias were matched to 49 participants without those particular phobias who served as control participants. The participants were 89.8% female and 79.6% Caucasian and had a mean age of 20.81 years (SD ϭ 3.62). Diagnosis was determined using the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule (Brown, DiNardo, & Barlow, 1994). Participants completed a BAT following a BATIE. Results indicated BATIE ratings significantly correlated with BAT performance and ratings. Significant differences were also found between the phobic and control groups on all BATIE ratings (all differences indicated poorer performance or more fear in those with specific phobias). Also, the BATIE scores demonstrated good evidence of convergent and discriminant validity compared to other self-reports, significantly predicted BAT performance even when controlling for those measures of fear and anxiety, and significantly predicted diagnostic severity ratings. Overall, results indicated that the BATIE may be a reasonable alternative to in vivo BATs in certain situations (e.g., clinical practice, unavailability of BAT stimuli).
Behavior Modification, Jun 20, 2012
A host of factors including genetic influences, temperament characteristics, learning experiences... more A host of factors including genetic influences, temperament characteristics, learning experiences, information processing biases, parental psychopathology, and specific parenting practices have been hypothesized to contribute to the development and expression of children's phobias. In the present study, the authors focused on parental psychopathology (phobic anxiety) and parenting behaviors (warmth, involvement) in the prediction of child performance on a behavioral approach test (BAT). All children (n = 44) experienced a phobia of animals and were clinic referred. The youth completed two BATs: the first alone and the second one with a parent present. Overall, performance was greater on the parent-present BAT (58% of steps completed) than on the child-alone BAT (38% of steps completed), although considerable variability was present. Performance on the parent-present BAT was associated with parental warmth and involvement but not parental phobic anxiety. Implications of these findings were discussed, and their implications for the use of behavioral analogues tests were explored.
Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, Aug 1, 2009
One-session treatment (OST), a variant of cognitive-behavioral therapy, combines graduated in viv... more One-session treatment (OST), a variant of cognitive-behavioral therapy, combines graduated in vivo exposure, participant modeling, reinforcement, psychoeducation, cognitive challenges, and skills training in an intensive treatment model. Treatment is maximized to one 3-hour session. In this paper, we review the application of OST for specific phobia in youth and highlight practical matters related to OST and its use in a clinical setting. We also briefly review results of treatment outcome studies and suggest future directions for clinical research and practice. We conclude that OST is an efficient and efficacious treatment. It has been suggested that if a clinician is thinking about using cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with anxious youth the clinician should "think exposures" (Kendall et al., 2005). Beyond this initial advice, however, conducting exposure therapy with children and adolescents is more complicated than one might "think." Many questions are evident. What kind of exposure should be used (in vivo, in imagination, on audio/video tape, or in virtual reality)? Precisely what materials and stimuli will be needed? How will they be obtained? Where will they be kept? Can I do it myself or do I need an assistant? What length of exposure (i.e., brief or prolonged) should I use? At what dose (spaced or massed)? How does one plan and conduct an exposure? Does one need to get specialized training or supervision to ensure competence? As a result, "thinking exposure" with anxious youth is complicated and requires a rich understanding of developmental psychopathology and familiarity with increasingly intensive and efficacious treatment formats (cf. Davis, in press; Ollendick, Davis, & Sirbu, in press). In this paper, we will focus on a host of practical issues associated with using exposure therapy for the treatment of specific phobia in children and adolescents. In doing so, we briefly review the literature, which has brought exposure therapy for child phobia from a multi-session downward extension of adult therapy to a more developmentally informed, intensive, single
Clinical Psychology-science and Practice, 2004
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