Treating childhood anxiety disorders

Background: The need for effective treatments for childhood anxiety disorders is great given these conditions are the most frequently experienced mental health concern among young people. In fact, at any given time, about 5.2% of four- to 18-year-olds likely meet criteria for an anxiety disorder. Methods: We used systematic review methods to identify recently published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating childhood anxiety disorder treatments. We accepted eight RCTs, all of which assessed cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), comparing it to either no intervention, an educational intervention, another treatment or another form of CBT. Results: All the of CBT treatments that addressed children’s anxiety showed at least one beneficial outcome. And several of the programs produced especially meaningful gains, including significant reductions in the number of children meeting diagnostic criteria for an anxiety disorder up to one year after the program ended. Conclusions: This systematic review adds to the evidence showing that CBT is the first line treatment for childhood anxiety disorders. It also illustrates the diversity of delivery options for CBT, not only by practitioners —including school counsellors and social workers — but also by parents. Youth can also effectively learn CBT online. Consequently, CBT should be readily available to every child who could benefit from it.