NCJ Number
140702
Journal
Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry Volume: 23 Issue: 2 Dated: (June 1992) Pages: 71-76
Date Published
1992
Length
6 pages
Annotation
A national sample of 300 clinical psychologists was surveyed to expand upon the findings of Graziano and De Giovanni that 6.8 percent of clinically referred children present with fears and/or phobias and to assess how clinicians can advise researchers about current need for further investigations in this area.
Abstract
Eighty-three or 6.9 percent of the 1,196 predominantly female children referred were treated for problems of fears or phobia. This figure was notably similar to Graziano and De Giovanni's 6.8 percent rate. Fears of separation (28.9 percent) and school (14.5 percent) were most prevalent, but other types of fears also were reported. Approximately two- thirds of therapists rated the presenting problems as moderate or severe. Cognitive or behaviorally based interventions were used for about two-thirds of the children. No specific type of therapy was implemented in more than 20 percent of the cases. The overall success rate based on available child, parent, and/or therapist reports was 64.0 percent. The findings suggest the need for controlled studies to assess the efficacy of several widely used treatments that lack an empirical base. 1 table and 18 references