Cognitive‐Behavioral Therapy for Anxious Children: From Evidence to Practice

Abstract

Each study included in this review employed hour-long sessions over a minimum of 12 visits. In order to meet clinical demands and patient preferences, affordability, and feasibility of CBT interventions must be addressed. A brief, manualized CBT program that can be supported to be clinically effective is proposed as an evidence-based solution for anxious children in outpatient mental health and primary care settings.

A Risk Prediction Model for Smoking Experimentation in Mexican American Youth

“…Similarly, susceptibility to smoking can be reduced using anti-smoking media campaigns(60). The risk of smoking experimentation due to anxiety or tension could be reduced by the use of cognitive-behavioral therapy(61). …”

Online intervention to reduce pediatric anxiety: An evidence‐based review

“…Educational organizations offer school‐age youth a time for physical, psychosocial, and cognitive development (Hoare et al, ; Sawyer & Nunez, ; Tennant, Goens, Barlow, Day, & Stewart‐Brown, ). The impact of experiences in one area, such as education, is interpreted and evaluated based on prior experiences especially with family and possible long‐term healthcare providers such as pediatricians (Sawyer & Nunez, ). Both family and healthcare providers often serve as the foundation for youth to perceive their physical and emotional environment as safe (Kolko et al, ; Tennant et al, ; Thombs, Roseman, & Kloda, ).…”

“…Although CBT is one type of psychotherapy, the major difference is that there is greater interaction and engagement from the patient as directed by the CBT provider, and this results in benefits to other areas of development such as nutrition, exercise and academic performance (James, ; Melnyk, Jacobson et al, ). These benefits are of particular value for school‐age youth with GAD and those who suffer from any of the multiple variations of anxiety, mood, and behavior disorders as they are frequently prone to developing associated comorbidities, such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, sleep problems, and poor academic performance (Hoare et al, ; Kolko et al, ; Sawyer & Nunez, ).…”

“…The Clinical Practice Guidelines highlights that CBT therapy may cost significantly more than pharmacotherapy only regimens, $148.11million versus $4.62 million, however, the cost is less than the amount required for treatment of anxiety‐related sequelae such as severe depression, suicide attempts, and other destructive behaviors which are estimated annually at $3,758.53 million for the United Kingdom and $247 billion for the United States (NICE, ; Schleider & Weisz, ). In the United States, cost is frequently seen as a barrier to access and availability more so than geographic location, however, schedule times and training are also seen as organizational barriers (Sawyer & Nunez, ; Ye et al, ). The increase in research of effective CBT programs and the novel delivery methods of internet‐based therapies support easier access with reduced cost and time investments that benefit larger populations of school‐age youth (Melnyk et al, ; Suchert et al, ; Ye et al, ).…”

Anxiety Disorder in Children: Review

“…It is based on the underlying hypothesis that affect and behavior are largely the products of cognition and, as such, that cognitive and behavioral interventions can bring changes in thinking, feeling and behavior [98]. Cognitive behavior therapy includes psychoeducation of child and caregivers regarding the nature of anxiety; techniques for managing somatic reactions including relaxation training and diaphragmatic breathing; cognitive restructuring by identifying and challenging anxiety-provoking thoughts; practicing problem-solving for coping with anticipated challenges; systematic exposure to feared situations or stimuli, including imaginal, simulated, and in vivo methods, with special focus on desensitization to feared stimuli; and relapse prevention plans [99].…”