Coping Cat – Group
Coping Cat – Group is a cognitive-behavioral approach designed to treat children ages 7–13 who are diagnosed with an anxiety disorder (e.g., generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia, separation anxiety disorder) and their parents. Treatment is divided into two parts with nine group sessions each. During the first nine sessions, the therapist teaches children how to recognize anxious feelings and thoughts, use strategies to manage their anxiety, and reward themselves for facing the anxiety. During the last nine sessions, children complete tasks designed to expose them to anxiety provoking situations based on their specific anxieties. Exposure starts with tasks that are less anxiety provoking and increases gradually to tasks that are more and more anxiety provoking. Initial tasks are completed as a group before transitioning to individually completed tasks in later sessions. In between sessions, children complete exercises to aid in skill development. The therapist meets separately with parents twice during treatment.
Coping Cat – Group is rated as a promising practice because at least one study achieved a rating of moderate or high on study design and execution and demonstrated a favorable effect on a target outcome.
Date Research Evidence Last Reviewed: May 2022
Sources
The program or service description, target population, and program or service delivery and implementation information were informed by the following sources: the program or service manual, the California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse, and the studies reviewed.
This information does not necessarily represent the views of the program or service developers. For more information on how this program or service was reviewed, visit the Review Process page or download the Handbook.
Target Population
Coping Cat – Group is designed to treat children ages 7–13 who are diagnosed with an anxiety disorder (e.g., generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia, separation anxiety disorder) and their parents.
Dosage
Coping Cat – Group is delivered over 18 group sessions of three to five children. Larger groups can be accommodated if delivered with a co-therapist. Each session lasts about 90 minutes and sessions occur weekly. In addition to group sessions, the therapist meets with parents between sessions 4 and 5 and between sessions 9 and 10.
Location/Delivery Setting
Recommended Locations/Delivery Settings
Coping Cat – Group is delivered in clinical settings.
Location/Delivery Settings Observed in the Research
- Mental Health Center, Treatment Center, Therapist Office
Education, Certifications and Training
Education requirements are determined by the organization implementing Coping Cat – Group. The program developer provides supervised training upon request.
Program or Service Documentation
Book/Manual/Available documentation used for review
Flannery-Schroeder, E. C., & Kendall, P. C. (1996). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxious children: Therapist manual for group treatment. Workbook Publishing.
Available languages
Coping Cat – Group materials are available in English.
For More Information
Website: https://www.workbookpublishing.com/anxiety.html
Email: pkendall@temple.edu
Note: The details on Dosage; Location; Education, Certifications, and Training; Other Supporting Materials; and For More Information sections above are provided to website users for informational purposes only. This information is not exhaustive and may be subject to change.
| Results of Search and Review | Number of Studies Identified and Reviewed for Coping Cat – Group |
|---|---|
| Identified in Search | 7 |
| Eligible for Review | 3 |
| Rated High | 1 |
| Rated Moderate | 0 |
| Rated Low | 2 |
| Reviewed Only for Risk of Harm | 0 |
| Outcome | Effect Size
 and Implied Percentile Effect
|
N of Studies (Findings) | N of Participants | Summary of Findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Child well-being: Behavioral and emotional functioning |
0.92
32 |
1 (5) | 110 |
Favorable:
3 No Effect: 2 Unfavorable: 0 |
Note: For the effect sizes and implied percentile effects reported in the table, a positive number favors the intervention group and a negative number favors the comparison group.
| Outcome | Effect Size
and Implied Percentile Effect
|
N of Studies (Findings) | N of Participants | Summary of Findings |
Months after treatment when outcome measured
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Child well-being: Behavioral and emotional functioning |
0.92
32 |
1 (5) | 110 |
Favorable:
3 No Effect: 2 Unfavorable: 0 |
- |
| Study 12152 - Group CBT (Coping Cat) vs. Waitlist Control (Villabø, 2018) | |||||
| Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule (Combined Child and Parent Report; % Loss of All Anxiety Diagnoses) |
1.80
*
46 |
- | 110 | - | 0 |
| Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (Child Report) |
0.26
10 |
- | 110 | - | 0 |
| Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (Parent Report) |
0.06
2 |
- | 110 | - | 0 |
| Children's Global Assessment Scale |
1.03
*
34 |
- | 110 | - | 0 |
| Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule (Combined Child and Parent Report; % Loss of Primary Anxiety Diagnosis) |
1.47
*
42 |
- | 110 | - | 0 |
*p <.05
Note: For the effect sizes and implied percentile effects reported in the table, a positive number favors the intervention group and a negative number favors the comparison group. Effect sizes and implied percentile effects were calculated by the Prevention Services Clearinghouse as described in the Handbook of Standards and Procedures, Section 5.10.4 and may not align with effect sizes reported in individual publications.
Only publications with eligible contrasts that met design and execution standards are included in the individual study findings table.
Full citations for the studies shown in the table are available in the "Studies Reviewed" section.
The participant characteristics display is an initial version. We encourage those interested in providing feedback to send suggestions to preventionservices@abtassoc.com.
The table below displays locations, the year, and participant demographics for studies that received moderate or high ratings on design and execution and that reported the information. Participant characteristics for studies with more than one intervention versus comparison group pair that received moderate or high ratings are shown separately in the table. Please note, the information presented here uses terminology directly from the study documents, when available. Studies that received moderate or high ratings on design and execution that did not include relevant participant demographic information would not be represented in this table.
For more information on how Clearinghouse reviewers record the information in the table, please see our Resource Guide on Study Participant Characteristics and Settings.
| Characteristics of the Participants in the Studies with Moderate or High Ratings | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Study Location
|
Study Year
|
Age or Grade-level
|
Race, Ethnicity, Nationality
|
Gender
|
Populations of Interest*
|
Household Socioeconomic Status
|
| Study 12152 - Group CBT (Coping Cat) vs. Waitlist Control | ||||||
| Characteristics of the Children and Youth | ||||||
| Southeast Norway | 2008 | Mean age: 10 years |
99% European/Caucasian 1% Hispanic 1% Asian |
26% Female | 100% of children with primary DSM-IV separation anxiety disorder (SAD), social anxiety disorder (SOC), or generalized anxiety disorder participated. | -- |
“--” indicates information not reported in the study.
* The information about disabilities is based on initial coding. For more information on how the Clearinghouse recorded disability information for the initial release, please see our Resource Guide on Study Participant Characteristics and Settings. The Clearinghouse is currently seeking consultation from experts, including those with lived experience, and input from the public to enhance and improve the display.
Note: Citations for the documents associated with each 5-digit study number shown in the table can be found in the “Studies Reviewed” section below. Study settings and participant demographics are recorded for all studies that received moderate or high ratings on design and execution and that reported the information. Studies that did not report any information about setting or participant demographics are not displayed. For more information on how participant characteristics are recorded, please see our Resource Guide on Study Participant Characteristics and Settings.
Studies Rated High
Study 12152Villabø, M. A., Narayanan, M., Compton, S. N., Kendall, P. C., & Neumer, S.-P. (2018). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for youth anxiety: An effectiveness evaluation in community practice. Journal of consulting and clinical psychology, 86(9), 751-764. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000326
This study was conducted in a usual care or practice setting (Handbook Section 6.2.2)Studies Rated Low
Study 12251Wong, D. F. K., Kwok, S. Y. C. L., Low, Y. T., Man, K. W., & Ip, P. S. Y. (2018). Evaluating effectiveness of cognitive–behavior therapy for Hong Kong adolescents with anxiety problems. Research on Social Work Practice, 28(5), 585-594. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049731516658351
This study received a low rating because the standards for addressing missing data were not met.Study 12358
Flannery-Schroeder, E. C., & Kendall, P. C. (2000). Group and individual cognitive–behavioral treatments for youth with anxiety disorders: A randomized clinical trial. Cognitive therapy and research, 24(3), 251-278. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005500219286
Flannery-Schroeder, E., Choudhury, M. S., & Kendall, P. C. (2005). Group and Individual Cognitive-Behavioral Treatments for Youth With Anxiety Disorders: 1-Year Follow-Up. Cognitive therapy and research, 29(2), 253-259. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-005-3168-z
This study received a low rating because it did not meet design confound standards.Studies Not Eligible for Review
Study 12143
van Starrenburg, M. L. A., Kuijpers, R. C. M. W., Kleinjan, M., Hutschemaekers, G. J. M., & Engels, R. C. M. E. (2017). Effectiveness of a cognitive behavioral therapy-based indicated prevention program for children with elevated anxiety levels: A randomized controlled trial. Prevention Science, 18(1), 31-39. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-016-0725-5
van Starrenburg, M. L. A., Kuijpers, R. C. W. M., Hutschemaekers, G. J. M., & Engels, R. C. M. E. (2013). Effectiveness and underlying mechanisms of a group-based cognitive behavioural therapy-based indicative prevention program for children with elevated anxiety levels. BMC Psychiatry, 13, Article 183. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-244X-13-183
This study is ineligible for review because it is not a study of the program or service under review (Study Eligibility Criterion 4.1.6).
Study 12200
Afshari, A., Neshat-Doost, H. T., Maracy, M. R., Ahmady, M. K., & Amiri, S. (2014). The effective comparison between emotion-focused cognitive behavioral group therapy and cognitive behavioral group therapy in children with separation anxiety disorder. Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, 19(3), 221-227. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4061643
This study is ineligible for review because it is not a study of the program or service under review (Study Eligibility Criterion 4.1.6).
Study 12247
Lau, W.-y., Chan, C. K.-y., Li, J. C.-h., & Au, T. K.-f. (2010). Effectiveness of group cognitive-behavioral treatment for childhood anxiety in community clinics. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 48(11), 1067-1077. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2010.07.007
This study is ineligible for review because it is not a study of the program or service under review (Study Eligibility Criterion 4.1.6).
Study 14318
Southam-Gerow, M. A., Bonifay, W., McLeod, B. D., Cox, J. R., Violante, S., Kendall, P. C., & Weisz, J. R. (2020). Generalizability and decision studies of a treatment adherence instrument. Assessment, 27(2), 321-333. https://doi.org/10.1177/1073191118765365
This study is ineligible for review because it does not use an eligible study design (Study Eligibility Criterion 4.1.4).