ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of evidence-based treatments for anxiety disorders in preschool-aged children. Based on a review of the literature, most studies focused on this age group utilize trans-diagnostic protocols and are applied to samples of children with various anxiety diagnoses. Furthermore, all treatments are cognitive-behavioral therapy-based and/or include some form of exposure therapy. At the same time, child-based interventions are adjusted to be developmentally appropriate, and therefore, are play-based. Based on an examination of effect sizes, these interventions appear to be effective at post-intervention. Despite these promising findings, more randomized clinical trials are needed. Finally, in addition to an overview of the research literature, details of a prototypical preschool anxiety treatment program, the Fun FRIENDS program, are included as an example of intervention with this age-group.
