@article{MelfsenJansRomanosetal.2022, author = {Melfsen, Siebke and Jans, Thomas and Romanos, Marcel and Walitza, Susanne}, title = {Family relationships in selective mutism — a comparison group study of children and adolescents}, series = {Children}, volume = {9}, journal = {Children}, number = {11}, issn = {2227-9067}, doi = {10.3390/children9111634}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-290386}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Selective mutism (SM) mostly develops early in childhood and this has led to interest into whether there could be differences in relationships in families with SM compared to a control group without SM. Currently, there are merely few empirical studies examining family relationships in SM. A sample of 28 children and adolescents with SM was compared to 33 controls without SM. The groups were investigated using self-report questionnaires (Selective Mutism Questionnaire, Child-Parent Relationship Test—Child Version) for the assessment of SM and family relationships. Children with SM did not report a significantly different relationship to their mothers compared with the control group without SM. However, the scores in respect to the relationship to their fathers were significantly lower in cohesion, identification and autonomy compared with children without SM. Relationships in families with SM should be considered more in therapy.}, language = {en} } @article{WalitzaMelfsenJansetal.2011, author = {Walitza, Susanne and Melfsen, Siebke and Jans, Thomas and Zellmann, Henrike and Wewetzer, Christoph and Warnke, Andreas}, title = {Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in Children and Adolescents}, series = {Deutsches {\"A}rzteblatt International}, volume = {108}, journal = {Deutsches {\"A}rzteblatt International}, number = {11}, doi = {10.3238/arztebl.2011.0173}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-141214}, pages = {173-I}, year = {2011}, abstract = {Background: Early-onset obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is one of the more common mental illnesses of children and adolescents, with prevalence of 1\% to 3\%. Its manifestations often lead to severe impairment and to conflict in the family. In this review, we summarize the manifestations, comorbidity, pathophysiology, and course of this disease as well as current modes of diagnosis and treatment. Methods: We selectively review the relevant literature and the German-language guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses in children and adolescents. Results: Obsessive-compulsive manifestations are of many types and cause severe impairment. Comorbid mental disturbances are present in as many as 70\% of patients. The disease takes a chronic course in more than 40\% of patients. Cognitive behavioral therapy is the treatment of first choice, followed by combination pharmacotherapy including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) and then by SSRI alone. Conclusion: OCD often begins in childhood or adolescence. There are empirically based neurobiological and cognitive-behavioral models of its pathophysiology. Multiaxial diagnostic evaluation permits early diagnosis. Behavioral therapy and medications are highly effective treatments, but the disorder nonetheless takes a chronic course in a large percentage of patients.}, language = {en} } @article{MelfsenKuehnemundSchwiegeretal.2011, author = {Melfsen, Siebke and K{\"u}hnemund, Martina and Schwieger, Judith and Warnke, Andreas and Stadler, Christina and Poustka, Fritz and Stangier, Ulrich}, title = {Cognitive behavioral therapy of socially phobic children focusing on cognition: a randomised wait-list control study}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-68747}, year = {2011}, abstract = {Background: Although literature provides support for cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as an efficacious intervention for social phobia, more research is needed to improve treatments for children. Methods: Forty four Caucasian children (ages 8-14) meeting diagnostic criteria of social phobia according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.; APA, 1994) were randomly allocated to either a newly developed CBT program focusing on cognition according to the model of Clark and Wells (n = 21) or a wait-list control group (n = 23). The primary outcome measure was clinical improvement. Secondary outcomes included improvements in anxiety coping, dysfunctional cognitions, interaction frequency and comorbid symptoms. Outcome measures included child report and clinican completed measures as well as a diagnostic interview. Results: Significant differences between treatment participants (4 dropouts) and controls (2 dropouts) were observed at post test on the German version of the Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory for Children. Furthermore, in the treatment group, significantly more children were free of diagnosis than in wait-list group at post-test. Additional child completed and clinician completed measures support the results. Discussion: The study is a first step towards investigating whether CBT focusing on cognition is efficacious in treating children with social phobia. Future research will need to compare this treatment to an active treatment group. There remain the questions of whether the effect of the treatment is specific to the disorder and whether the underlying theoretical model is adequate. Conclusion: Preliminary support is provided for the efficacy of the cognitive behavioral treatment focusing on cognition in socially phobic children. Active comparators should be established with other evidence-based CBT programs for anxiety disorders, which differ significantly in their dosage and type of cognitive interventions from those of the manual under evaluation (e.g. Coping Cat).}, subject = {Verhaltenstherapie}, language = {en} }