Internet-Based CBT for Children With Anxiety Disorders: Implementation in Clinical Settings

Internet-Based CBT for Children With Anxiety Disorders: Implementation in Clinical Settings

The primary objective of this study is to test the effectiveness of internet-delivered and therapist-guided internet-based cognitive behavior therapy (ICBT) for children with anxiety disorders (including social anxiety disorder, separation anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder and specific phobia) in a randomized trial where participants will be allocated to either ICBT or to a supportive control condition. Non-responders (defined as those participants who still uphold their primary anxiety disorder after the ICBT treatment) will be offered traditional (face-to-face) CBT. Follow-ups are conducted at 3 and 12 months after treatment completion.

Inclusion Criteria:

• A primary diagnosis of any of the following anxiety disorders, as defined by DSM-V (social anxiety disorder, separation anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder or specific phobia)
• Age between 8 and 12 years
• 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 6 weeks prior to baseline assessment

Exclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, psychosis, bipolar disorder or severe eating disorder
• Present risk of suicide
• Ongoing substance dependence
• Completed CBT for any anxiety disorder within the last 6 months (defined as at least 5 sessions of CBT including in vivo exposure sessions)