Primary prevention of anxiety disorders: Evaluation of a booklet for children and adolescents

Up until now there have been hardly any programs or material available for the primary prevention of anxiety disorders in childhood and adolescence in the German language. A booklet for children and adolescents has been developed with the most important information about anxiety and anxiety disorders and different coping strategies, in a child-friendly presentation, its main aim being the primary prevention of anxiety disorders. In a first step content validity was judged by experts (n = 37). The acceptability,of the booklet was assessed in 101 children with and without anxiety disorders and their parents (n = 93). The results confirmed the content validity of the booklet and also showed a high acceptance by the participants tested. The booklet therefore fulfils the most important criteria for its implementation in the primary prevention of anxiety disorders in childhood and adolescence.