Neuroimaging anxious children and adolescents before and after cognitive behavioral therapy: a systematic review.
Oana-Georgiana Munteanu-Forij, Costina-Ruxandra Poetar, Ondrej Zika et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review examined neuroimaging studies of youths under 19 with anxiety disorders undergoing cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). It found that task-related neural responses in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and insula increased post-CBT, correlating with symptom improvement. The review included fifteen studies and highlighted the need for more reliable neural markers.
Key findings
- Task-related neural response in the ACC increased from pre to post CBT in 25.0% of studies.
- Pre-treatment activity in the ACC and amygdala predicted CBT outcomes in 23.0% of studies.
- Methodological variability and small sample sizes contributed to low consistency in findings.
Why it matters
Understanding neural changes associated with CBT can inform treatment strategies for anxiety disorders in children and adolescents, potentially leading to more personalized and effective interventions.
What to keep in mind
The review noted substantial methodological diversity and low reliability of neural markers across studies.