Research Abstract and Draft

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The Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as an Intervention for Student

diagnosed with Anxiety

Melissa Kelly

Albany State University

COUN5620 Research and Program Evaluation for Counselors

Dr. Claudia Calder

October 27, 2021

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Research Design

Data sampling and participants

The research participants were recruited from a randomized control trial. The research

was qualitative thus purposive sampling technique will be used to select 15 students from the

1250 students aged between 9 and 13 years from 5 different learning institutions. 5 parents will

also be involved in the study whose children have a history of anxiety disorder. The number is

recommended as qualitative research usually recommends a sample with a minimum number of

12 participants (Stjerneklar et al.,2018). The inclusion criteria for participants involved children

with primary diagnoses of anxiety disorders based on parent or guardian reports about the child

and those with a sample of DNA available for analysis. The exclusion criteria involved a history

of children diagnosed with intellectual impairment, psychosis, or neurological disorder for the

child. A purposive sampling technique was used in selecting the sample of 15 participants.

Purposive sampling is a nonprobability sampling technique where the sample is determined

based on specific characteristics intended to provide a various and valid understanding of the

selected individual experiences (Anna et al., 2018). The study acquired ethical approval from the

University Senate. Participants' informed consent was obtained from parents and guardians and

permission from young people.

Instruments

The research instrument consisted of questionnaires and interviews. The study

participants will be provided with information regarding the CBT. The interview will be

conducted with the parents on their experience with anxiety disorders. The interview questions

covered how parents see the delivery of the CBT and the outcomes associated with whether the

method was helpful, and the challenges faced on the implementation of CBT. The interview time

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is expected to range from 10 to 20 minutes. Students will be required to fill questionnaires on

their perception of anxiety disorders. Questionnaires will be organized systematically to

systematize the identification of anxiety concerns amongst students. Early identification of

anxiety disorders encourages consistent follow-up facilitating early intervention comprising

guided self-management and focused involvement for subclinical and trivial presentations.

Data Collection

Data will be collected through the use of online pretreatment questionnaires. However,

participants' comfortability will be measured through a question aimed at assessing the

participants' feelings about the use of computers and the internet. The questionnaire will be

administered for two weeks to give participants ample time for responding. The electronic data

collection to be used for helping the questionnaire is the surveys (Stjerneklar et al.,2018). On the

other hand, the interviews will be recorded electronically, and the audio recordings of the

interviews will be listened to severally and then copied verbatim and anonymized. The thematic

analysis procedure was used to study the data. Further, the incorporated line-by-line coding of all

the interviews will take an inductive method, which involves using the NVivo software package

for organizing the data proficiently.

Data Analysis

Data analysis will encompass the recognition, investigation, and interpretation of themes

and patterns in written data and assess how these patterns and themes are trying to answer the

research questions involved. Data analyses will therefore involve reading many transcripts to

determine the differences and similarities or differences and then finding subjects and developing

groups. In order to minimize technical sophistication and reduce the laborious task, thus making

the data analysis process moderately easier NVivo software will be used (Stjerneklar et al.,2018).

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NVivo is a computer package developed to mechanize this 'coding' process and assist in

searching and retrieving data (Stjerneklar et al.,2018). The most fundamental characteristic and

the primary tool of NVivo help qualitative researchers analyze and manage the data described.

Discussion

Significance of the study

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy was found to moderately reduce symptoms associated with

anxiety disorder. Subgroup analyses designated that persons who contributed to group CBT

experienced better treatment effects t compared to those who participated in CBT individually.

CBT produces more significant results than other psychotherapeutic involvements and has

proved beneficial for affective and cognitive factors. Strengths of the present study comprise the

use of a large sample of assessments for the tenacity of instituting psychometric possessions for

the scale, allowing the use of factor examination to examine the structure of the scale.

Limitations of the study

The structured nature of CBT made the study not suitable for individuals experiencing

complex mental health necessities and learning problems. Also, since CBT usually involves

challenging one's emotions and worries, the participant will likely experience preliminary

periods of being more emotionally uncomfortable. Equally, some of the recorded interviews

were from personal treatment, and more assessments from group treatment may be required to

evaluate psychometric treatments.

Future Research

Further studies should consider adding a more comprehensive range of measures

evaluating anxiety difficulties, such as anger and impulsivity. There are some significant paths

for future research. A key focus should also be taken on comparing the effectiveness of specific

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CBT with the extensively used one-session, CBT conducted for anxious youth (Krister et al.,

2017). These educations should also measure critical biological and cognitive processes that

could be dynamic replies to CBT treatment set-ups. Finally, a study to evaluate these inquiries

amongst adolescents is desirable.

The implication of future research

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is an effective and acceptable therapy for students with

anxiety disorders, totaling research signifying that it may be a suitable first-line intervention.

There is essential to recognize instruments of change in CBT (Jon & Krister, 2016). Though

some processes are revealed to facilitate treatment results, widespread research is essential to

dependably define mediators and instruments of change in treatment. Currently, there is research

to support change in undesirable self-talk and handling as possible mechanisms (Luo &

McAloon, 2021). Therefore, future studies should contemplate including a diversity of cognitive,

behavioral, and emotional measures and should study the effects of treatment mechanisms as a

step towards recognizing instruments that improve CBT for teenage anxiety. Explicitly, future

research should evaluate changes in other cognitive factors that may mediate treatment, such as

the bias of uncertainty or automatic negative opinions (Luo & McAloon, 2021). Studies may also

benefit from distinguishing between mental process changes and avoidant behaviors when

investigating behavioral interferences.

The implication of the research

The benefits of CBT encompass cognitive therapy in addressing worry and cognitive

biases, moderation to manage tension, and possibly exposure to critical ideas and direction to

stressful conditions whereas response averting over-cautious behaviors. The use of cognitive-

behavioral therapy as an interference measure assist in decreasing anxiety efficacy. The

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cognitive model emphasizes that anxiety dysfunction occurs primarily due to explanatory

prejudices in one's belief system resulting in thinking errors and behaviors in line with

prejudiced opinions (Walter et al.,2018). Health providers use a wide range of cognitive and

behavioral strategies in the treatment to offer improved outcomes. Since CBT is more focused on

the causes of the symptoms of anxiety distress, it provides an effective way of improving the

patient beliefs procedures. Additionally, CBT emphasizes the present state in an individual's life

that contributes to anxiety; subsequently, the study asserts that an individual's history can

develop more operational ways of managing and dealing with life worries.

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References

Anna, M., Robert, K. & Jonathan, R. C., 2018. The impact of treatment delivery format on

response to cognitive behavior therapy for preadolescent children with anxiety disorders.

Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 59(7), pp. 763-772.

Jon, F. B. & Krister, W. F., 2016. Competence and Adherence Scale for Cognitive Behavioral

Therapy (CAS-CBT) for anxiety disorders in youth: Psychometric properties.

Psychological Assessment, 28(8), p. 908.

Krister, W. F., Wendy, N. & Tina, D. J., 2017. Mothers’ and fathers’ internalizing symptoms

influence parental ratings of adolescent anxiety symptoms. Journal of Family

Psychology, 31(7), p. 939.

Luo, A., & McAloon, J. (2021). Potential mechanisms of change in cognitive behavioral therapy

for childhood anxiety: A meta analysis. Depression and Anxiety, 38(2), 220-232.‐

Stjerneklar, S., Hougaard, E., & Thastum, M. (2019). Guided internet-based cognitive behavioral

therapy for adolescent anxiety: predictors of treatment response. Internet interventions,

15, 116-125.

Walter, H. J., Bukstein, O. G., Abright, A. R., Keable, H., Ramtekkar, U., Ripperger-Suhler, J.,

& Rockhill, C. (2020). Clinical practice guideline for the assessment and treatment of

children and adolescents with anxiety disorders. Journal of the American Academy of

Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 59(10), 1107-1124