Comparative Effectiveness of Internet-based Versus Parent-Coached Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy For Children and Adolescents With Anxiety and OCD

ConditionsObsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)Anxiety Disorder of Childhood or Adolescence Social Anxiety Disorder of Childhood Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)Separation Anxiety Disorder Panic Disorder Panic Attacks Panic Disorder (With or Without Agoraphobia)Phobia, Specific

Trial statusRecruiting

Trial phaseNot applicable

Trial typeInterventional

Biological sexAll

Age7-17

SponsorBaylor College of Medicine

About this trial

Anxiety disorders in children and adolescents are common and confer significant disability. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the recommended treatment for youth with anxiety, yet many families cannot access CBT due to cost, practicalities of attending in-person treatment sessions, and a shortage of trained providers, especially in rural areas. To combat these barriers, other treatment methods have been developed.

Previous research has shown that family-based, internet-delivered CBT (iCBT) for anxiety and OCD in youth has shown a significant reduction in anxiety symptoms. Parent-coached exposure therapy (PCET) focuses entirely on teaching parents and youth together how to address anxiety through the completion of in-session parent-coached exposures and assigning parent-coached exposure as homework in between sessions.

Although both iCBT and PCET show positive results in treating pediatric anxiety in comparison to standard-care CBT, little is known about the comparative efficacy of iCBT and PCET.

This research is being done to understand the comparative effectiveness of two different types of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for treating anxiety or OCD in youth.

Eligibility criteria

Qualifiers

The child is between the ages of 7 to 17 years inclusive at enrollment.

The child has clinically significant symptoms of anxiety and/or OCD, as indicated by a score of 12 or higher on the Pediatric Anxiety Rating Scale (PARS).

The child is appropriate for anxiety-focused treatment (e.g., anxiety or OCD is the primary or co-primary problem as diagnosed using the DIAMOND-KID).

One parent/guardian is able and willing to participate in assessment and treatment (e.g., has sufficient English fluency, the decisional capacity to participate, and can commit to treatment duration).

Disqualifiers

The child has a diagnosis of a lifetime psychotic disorder and/or conduct disorder.

The child has significant, current and active suicidality/homicidality and/or self-injury requiring medical intervention.

The child has limited verbal communication abilities (e.g., no independent verbal communication).

The child is receiving concurrent psychotherapy with anxiety and/or OCD as the primary focus. They can pause ongoing therapy to enroll.

Trial design

Treatments tested in this trial

Parent Coached Exposure Therapy
Family Based, Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Treatment groups

174 Participants

are divided into 2 treatment groups

Sponsors and collaborators

Baylor College of Medicine

Lead sponsor

Source ClinicalTrials.gov