VP3: Vancouver Primary Prevention Program (Anxiety Disorders Prevention in School Children)

Objective:

1. To evaluate the efficacy of a school-based cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) program in reducing anxiety disorder symptoms in at-risk public school children.
2. To determine whether parent education and involvement improves outcome in anxious children treated with CBT.
3. To determine the ability of school personnel in a) recognizing classroom behaviors as anxiety disordered after targeting training of observable child behaviors e.g., avoidance, over-worry, etc.), and b) delivering a cognitive behavior intervention and
4. To evaluate a new measure of teacher-rated anxiety disorder symptoms in children.

Hypothesis:

1. A CBT oriented intervention as delivered by school personnel will be superior to an attention control procedure in reducing anxiety symptoms in at-risk children.
2. Children who have parental involvement will post stronger and more enduring treatment gains.