Eight family sessions cut the rate of new anxiety disorders from 31% to 5%
A randomised prevention trial in families where a parent has an anxiety disorder
Reviewed by Sian Trombley, CCCFounder, Thrive Family Company
Strong confidence
Source citation
Ginsburg G. S., Drake K. L., Tein J. Y., Teetsel R., Riddle M. A. (2015). Preventing Onset of Anxiety Disorders in Offspring of Anxious Parents: A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Family-Based Intervention. American Journal of Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2015.14091178
Published 1 January 2015 · Added to Thrive 26 July 2026 · Reviewed 26 July 2026
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Anxiety runs in families. This trial tested whether that transmission can be interrupted before a child ever meets diagnostic criteria.
Published research findings
The study
136 families in which a parent had an anxiety disorder were randomised to an eight-session family intervention or written information.
What researchers examined
Whether the intervention prevented the onset of anxiety disorders in children over one year.
What they found
At one year, 5% of children in the intervention group had developed an anxiety disorder, compared with 31% in the information-only group.
Thrive editorial interpretation
What this may mean for families
Prevention is feasible and brief. Families with anxiety histories do not have to wait for a child to become unwell.
What this doesn't tell us
Important limitations
Single-site trial with a specific, help-seeking population and one-year follow-up.
Evidence confidence describes how much weight this study's design can carry — not how strongly the finding applies to any individual child or family.
Therapist perspective — Thrive interpretation, not a finding of the study
Therapist Perspective
If you are an anxious parent, this is the most hopeful study in the field. Your history is information, not inheritance.
Practical family considerations
Anxious families can act early — before a child meets criteria.
This research summary is educational and does not replace individualized medical, psychological or therapeutic advice.
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Moderate confidence
Why it matters
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Why it matters
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Why it matters
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