Effects of Maternal Interpretation Biases on Child Anxiety and Related Responses

The purpose of this study is to expand our understanding of the intergenerational transmission of cognitive risk for childhood anxiety disorders by examining whether changes in maternal interpretations of situations result in changes in child interpretations and child anxiety.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Children ages 8-12
• Children with primary diagnosis of anxiety disorder
• Mothers with clinical levels of anxiety symptoms on the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales (DASS; Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Physical disability impairing ability to use a computer
• Intelligence Quotient <80
• Reading comprehension and fluency composite <75
• Concurrent primary diagnosis of any non-anxiety disorder
• Currently receiving psychological or pharmacological treatment for anxiety
• Danger to self/others
• Non-English speaking child/parent
• Maternal current involvement in cognitive-behavioral therapy
• Maternal changes in pharmacological treatment in the 12 weeks prior to enrollment.