A Randomized Controlled Study of Digitalized Cognitive-behavioral Intervention for Childhood Anxiety

Digitalized Cognitive-behavioral Intervention for Anxiety Among School Children. A Randomized Controlled Study

The aim of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a digitalized cognitive-behavioral treatment for anxiety among school aged children. The participants are screened from the general population, as a part of the routine school health care check-ups. Half of the children with anxiety will receive the digitalized treatment program, while the other half will receive education about anxiety in internet.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Scoring ≥22 on SCARED

Exclusion Criteria:

• no access to internet
• insufficient language (Finnish until summer 2019, Finnish and Swedish from autumn 2019 onwards, when also Swedish version of the intervention was available) skills
• visual or hearing impairment that hinders the use of the program
• the child's mental retardation, autism spectrum disorder, suicidal intentions or severe mental disorder
• the child's psychotherapy (ongoing or starting within 6 months)
• the child's medication (for anxiety) started / changed within 2 months
• current involvement with child protection services (i.e., removal of child custody, investigation of child abuse or neglect)
• parent's severe psychiatric / somatic disease or other reason that hinders the parent to actively participate in the program