Parent-coached exposure therapy versus cognitive behavior therapy for childhood anxiety disorders.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is the strongest evidenced-based therapy for childhood anxiety disorders (CADs). However, CBT's impact is limited by its lack of clear superiority over treatment as usual, excessive length, and greater than 50% of patients remaining symptomatic. Parent-coached exposure therapy (PCET) is designed to treat CADs more effectively and efficiently through a focus on exposure and working with parents and youth together.

Using session recordings to understand the content of community-based treatment for childhood anxiety disorders and response to technology-based training.

Objective: The goal of the current study is to advance efforts to increase the quality of care for childhood anxiety disorder (CADs) through (1) detailing the content of community-based treatment sessions, (2) exploring the validity of therapist surveys, (3) examining the influence of setting differences, and (4) testing the effects of a technology-based training on use of nonexposure strategies.

Methods: Thirteen therapists were randomly assigned to technology-based training in the use of exposure therapy or treatment as usual (TAU) for CADs. Therapeutic techniques were coded from 125 community-based treatment sessions.

Quantifying Session Content in the Delivery of Parent Coached Exposure Therapy.

Despite exposure therapy having been identified as the active ingredient in the treatment of childhood anxiety disorders (CADs), available protocols deliver a variety of anxiety management strategies (AMS) in addition to exposure. To increase the effectiveness and efficiency of treatment, Parent Coached Exposure Therapy (PCET): 1) begins exposure early (e.g.

Physical Symptoms, Distress, and Functional Disability in Youth With Chronic Orthostatic Intolerance.

Objective: Youth with chronic orthostatic intolerance (OI) can experience significant physical, social, and academic functional debilitation. Previous studies have indicated associations among symptom severity, psychosocial factors, and functional disability. However, empirically tested models explaining how different medical and psychosocial factors may contribute to functional disability are lacking.

Using Technology to Promote Therapist Use of Exposure Therapy for Childhood Anxiety Disorders: A Randomized Pilot Study.

Increasing the use of exposure by community therapists during the treatment of childhood anxiety disorders is critical to improving the quality of available treatment. The aim of the current study was to investigate whether a brief training in the delivery of an exposure-focused and technology-assisted treatment protocol increased community therapist openness to exposure therapy, use of exposure in treatment, and improvement in patient symptoms. Participants were 17 therapists recruited from a large health system to provide outpatient therapy to 32 youth ages 8-18 (M = 12.

Community Therapist Response to Technology-Assisted Training in Exposure Therapy for Childhood Anxiety Disorders.

Despite the efficacy of exposure for childhood anxiety disorders (CADs), dissemination has been unsuccessful. The current study examined community-therapist response to a brief (90-minutes) training in technology-assisted exposure therapy for CADs. The results indicated that therapists found the training in the therapy approach and technology acceptable, despite endorsing mainly non-exposure-based practice prior to the training.

The feasibility of verbal and virtual reality exposure for youth with academic performance worry.

With exposure emerging as a key ingredient in anxiety treatment for childhood anxiety disorders (CADs), expansion of exposure techniques is a promising avenue for improving treatment efficacy. The present study examined use of imaginal exposure (IE), a technique understudied in the treatment of CADs. Specifically, the study tested whether two forms of exposure to worries (verbal IE and virtual reality exposure therapy, VRET) would be effective and acceptable forms of exposure with youth.