Research protocol: development, implementation and evaluation of a cognitive behavioural therapy-based intervention programme for the management of anxiety symptoms in South African children with visual impairments

Background: Childhood anxiety presents a serious mental health problem, and it is one of the most common forms of psychological distress reported by youth worldwide. The prevalence of anxiety symptoms amongst South African youth is reported to be significantly higher than in other parts of the world. These high prevalence rates become even more significant when viewed in terms of children with visual impairments, as it is suggested that children with physical disabilities may be more prone, than their non-disabled peers, for the development of psychological difficulties. Objectives: The main aim of this study is to develop, implement and evaluate a specifically tailored anxiety intervention programme for use with South African children with visual impairments. Method: A specifically tailored cognitive-behavioural therapy-based anxiety intervention, for 9-13 year old South African children with visual impairments, will be evaluated in two special schools. The study will employ a randomised wait-list control group design with pre- postand follow-up intervention measures, with two groups each receiving a 10 session anxiety intervention programme. The main outcome measure relates to the participants' symptoms of anxiety as indicated on the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale. Conclusion: If the anxiety intervention programme is found to be effective in reducing symptoms of anxiety, this universal intervention will lay down the foundation upon which future contextually sensitive (South African) anxiety intervention programmes can be built

Depresión y mala interpretación de los padres luego de una exposición traumática de la ansiedad del hijo / Depression and parental misperception of child anxiety following traumatic exposure

Este estudio examinó el rol parental ante eventos traumáticos sobre los niveles de ansiedad de sus hijos. Fueron incluidos 52 niños derivados a un tratamiento clínico debido a las dificultades por excesivo miedo o ansiedad, y uno de sus progenitores (generalmente la madre) de cada niño. La exposición parental a un evento traumático estaba asociada a un informe sobredimensionado que el progenitor hacía de la ansiedad del hijo. Además, se encontró que la depresión era un mediador parcial del informe sobredimensionado que hacía el padre de la ansiedad del hijo con posterioridad a una exposición traumática. Los hallazgos sugieren que tal vez sea necesario ser cautos al utilizar los informes de los padres que presentan depresión o que experimentaron una experiencia traumática o que padecen o padecieron ambas.