Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
7266836 | Journal of Anxiety Disorders | 2018 | 10 Pages |
Abstract
Sixty-eight 4-6 year old children who co-slept with their parents and who avoided sleeping alone due to intense nighttime fears were randomized to a brief combined parent-based intervention (CBT-based bibliotherapy plus doll) or a wait list control group. After the waiting period, the wait list participants were offered treatment. Co-sleeping patterns, sleep records, anxiety, general fears, and behavior problems were assessed with parent-report measures. Nighttime fears were assessed with parent-report measures and a single item visual analogue scale for the young children. Assessments were completed pre-treatment, post-treatment, and at 3 months following treatment. Results showed that the combined intervention was superior to the wait list control condition and that treatment effects were maintained at 3-month follow-up. This study provides initial support for use of CBT-based bibliotherapy plus doll in the treatment of nighttime fears. Such a treatment might be used to supplement standard CBT approaches in routine clinical practice or in a stepped care approach to treatment.
Related Topics
Health Sciences
Medicine and Dentistry
Psychiatry and Mental Health
Authors
Renatha El Rafihi-Ferreira, Edwiges F.M. Silvares, Fernando R. Asbahr, Thomas H. Ollendick,