Internet-delivered Treatment for Children With Anxiety Disorders in a Rural Area; an Open Trial in a Clinical Setting

Internet-delivered Treatment for Children With Anxiety Disorders in a Rural Area; an Open Trial in a Clinical Setting

An open trial will be conducted at the Child and Mental Health Service (CAMHS) unit in the rural county Jämtland in Sweden to test the feasibility and efficacy of Internet-delivered Cognitive Behavior Therapy (ICBT) for children with anxiety disorders in a clinical setting. 20 children with a principal diagnosis of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), separation anxiety, specific phobia and their parents will be recruited from the CAMHS-center in Östersund. They will receive 12 weeks of therapist-supported ICBT and will be assessed by clinician ratings and child- and parent-reports at baseline, post-treatment and 3 month follow-up. The primary outcome measures the Clinical Global Impressions - Severity scale (CGI-S). Secondary outcome measures include clinician rated global functioning, and child and parent-rated anxiety and functioning.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 8-12 years of age
• Fulfilling diagnostic criteria for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Separation anxiety, Specific phobia
• Ability to read and write Swedish
• Daily access to the internet
• A parent that is able to co-participate in the treatment
• Participants on psychotropic medication must have been on a stable dose for the last 3 months prior to baseline assessment

Exclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosed autism spectrum disorder or Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or principal primary disorder other than GAD, Separation anxiety, Specific phobia
• Acute/severe psychiatric problems such as suicidal risk or severe depression
• Ongoing psychological treatment for anxiety disorders
• Ongoing child custody dispute or abuse in the family