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Storch's Multi-Tiered Model

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Sulkowski, Joyce, and Storch advocate a multi-tiered model for treating childhood anxiety in school settings. The authors suggest a universally administered behavior screener. At this time, specific tier one interventions for childhood anxiety have only been implemented as parts of a clinical trial. Broad intervention programs designed to prevent violence and bullying potentially indirectly reduce anxiety, but there is a lack of data available to support this claim (Sulkowski, Joyce, & Storch, 2011). The authors recommend a multi-method assessment to identify students who have significant anxiety, who will make up their tier two population. At this time, identified students may receive intervention services. Finally, students who do not respond …show more content…

The program included six 45-minute group sessions based on psychoeducational and cognitive behavioral treatment. All participants completed assessments that indicated elevated levels of anxiety sensitivity, but did not meet criteria for an anxiety disorder (Balle and Tortella-Feliu, 2010). The results indicated a delayed affect on anxiety and depression prevention, as well as an improvement in symptom reduction pre- and post- intervention. According to the authors, selective prevention model may be advantageous because they “could allow us to reduce the incidence, not only of anxiety disorders, but also of anxiety symptoms that may eventually lead to full-blown disorders; that is, tackling the latent risk before certain symptoms are developed, at least in some individuals, may be beneficial and may be a method of enhancing feasibility” (Balle and Tortella-Feliu, 2010, p. 73). In addition, eliminating the need of parents or teachers to collaborate may make it easier to reach more students and develop briefer intervention programs (Balle and Tortella-Feliu, …show more content…

MBCT aims to “enhance self- management of attention, improve affective regulation by promoting decentering from thoughts and emotions, and increase social-emotional resiliency in elementary school aged children” (Semple, Lee, Rosa, & Miller, 2010, p. 226). After participating in a twelve-week intervention as part of a randomized MBCT-C trial, the nine to thirteen-year-old participants displayed significantly fewer attentional problems and some reductions in anxiety symptoms (although these were also non clinically significant, as they were also present across control groups) (Semple et al., 2010). However, the authors also note potential limitation tied to the structure of the intervention. In a psychotherapy group setting, one member can impact the treatment affects of other members. Therefore, the assumption of independence of participant results is violated (Semple et al.,

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