The Anxiety Study for Children (ASK-Study), conducted since 2014, is a randomized-controlled multicenter study in cooperation with the three universities of Göttingen (center director: Prof. Simone Salzer), Heidelberg (center director: Dr. Annette Stefini) and the IPU Berlin (center director: Prof. Annette Streeck-Fischer).
The aim of the ASK study is to develop a manualized psychodynamic therapy for 7- to 13-year-old children with separation anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder or social phobia and to test its effectiveness. N=133 children were randomly assigned to receive psychotherapy either immediately (intervention condition) or after a 16-week waiting period (waiting condition). A psychodynamic short-term therapy (24-25 sessions plus accompanying parent talks) was used, with a focus tailored specifically to the individual anxiety issues of the children. This manualized focal therapy based on the concept of Luborsky (1984) was conducted by trained, clinically experienced child and adolescent psychotherapists under accompanying study supervision.
Diagnostic assessments were conducted by trained and blinded examiners before, during and after therapy or waiting time, as well as at two follow-up points.
Recruitment, treatment and follow-up assessments have been completed. The study is now in the evaluation phase. Publications are in preparation.
Original language: German