A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL IN COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTERS OF COMPUTER-ASSISTED COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY VERSUS TREATMENT AS USUAL FOR CHILDREN WITH ANXIETY.
Author: Storch EA1,2,3,4,5,6, Salloum A7, King MA1, Crawford EA8, Andel R9, McBride NM1, Lewin AB1,3,4.
Affiliation:
1Rothman Center for Neuropsychiatry, Department of Pediatrics, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, Florida. 2Department of Health Policy and Management, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, Florida. 3Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, Florida. 4Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, Florida. 5Rogers Behavioral Health - Tampa Bay, Florida. 6Mind-Body Branch, All Children's Hospital - Johns Hopkins Medicine, St. Petersburg, Florida. 7School of Social Work, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, Tampa Bay, Florida. 8Department of Psychology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 9School of Aging Studies, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, Florida. Abstract
Conference/Journal: Depress Anxiety.
Date published: 2015 Sep 14
Other:
Special Notes: doi: 10.1002/da.22399 , Word Count: 200
OBJECTIVE:
This study aims to examine the real-world effectiveness of a computer-assisted cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) protocol relative to treatment as usual (TAU) among anxious children presenting at community mental health centers.
METHODS:
One hundred children (7-13 years) with clinically significant anxiety were randomized to receive either 12 weekly computer-assisted CBT sessions or TAU for an equivalent duration. Assessments were conducted by independent evaluators at screening/baseline, midtreatment, posttreatment, and 1-month followup (for computer-assisted CBT treatment responders).
RESULTS:
There were significant between-group effects favoring the computer-assisted CBT condition on primary anxiety outcomes. Thirty of 49 (61.2%) children randomized to computer-assisted CBT responded to treatment, which was superior to TAU (6/51, 11.8%). Relative to TAU, computer-assisted CBT was associated with greater reductions in parent-rated child impairment and internalizing symptoms, but not child-rated impairment and anxiety and depressive symptoms. Treatment satisfaction and therapeutic alliance in those receiving computer-assisted CBT was high. Treatment gains in computer-assisted CBT responders were maintained at 1-month followup.
CONCLUSIONS:
Within the limitations of this study, computer-assisted CBT is an effective and feasible treatment for anxious children when used in community mental health centers by CBT-naïve clinicians.
© 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
KEYWORDS:
anxiety; children; community mental health centers; computer-assisted cognitive behavioral therapy; treatment
PMID: 26366886
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