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Cognitive-behavioural Intervention for an Adolescent School Refuser: A Comprehensive Approach

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 October 2014

Justine Anderson ,
Neville King ,
Bruce Tonge ,
Stephanie Rollings ,
Dawn Young  and
David Heyne
Justine Anderson
Affiliation:
Monash University
Neville King
Affiliation:
Monash University
Bruce Tonge
Affiliation:
Monash University
Stephanie Rollings
Affiliation:
Monash University
Dawn Young
Affiliation:
Monash University
David Heyne*
Affiliation:
Monash University
*
Centre for Developmental Psychiatry, Monash Medical Centre, 246 Clayton Road, Clayton VIC 3168, Australia. E-mail: david.heyne@med.monash.edu.au
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Extract

A case study is presented of a 13-year-old adolescent male with a long history of anxious symptoms related to school attendance. At the time of referral to the school refusal clinic, the adolescent had significant difficulty attending school, having attended for only 1 day in the past 3 weeks. A cognitive-behavioural treatment program was conducted over 3 weeks, consisting of seven sessions with the adolescent, seven sessions with his parents, and consultation to school personnel. Treatment focused on the implementation of behaviour management techniques by caregivers as well as teaching anxiety management skills to the adolescent. Positive treatment outcomes included the adolescent's return to full-time attendance at school as well as a decrease in emotional distress. The implications of treatment are discussed in relation to the simultaneous application of behaviour management and anxiety management strategies in the treatment of school refusal.

Type
Research Article
Information
Behaviour Change , Volume 15 , Issue 2 , June 1998 , pp. 67 - 73
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 1998

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