Methodological issues in treatment research for anxiety disorders in youth

This article identifies and addresses three methodological domains relevant to the treatment of anxiety disorders in youth: (a) procedural matters, (b) the assessment of anxious distress, and (c) the analysis of treatment-produced change. Procedural topics include the need to manualize treatment, have diversity among participants and comparability of the duration of treatment and control conditions, and control for medication status. Multiple-method measurement issues include child and parent reports, observations, and structured interviewing. Our examination of change issues considers comorbidity, analyzing the intent-to-treat sample, treatment 'spillover,' and clinical as well as statistical significance. Problems are identified and potential ameliorative strategies are offered. KEY WORDS: Anxiety; therapy research methods; child treatment; clinical and statistical significance; anxiety measurement.