NCT07024758

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

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 174 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Baylor College of Medicine · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 7 Years – 17 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

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.

Detailed description

Anxiety disorders in children and adolescents are common and confer significant disability. Without treatment, anxiety remains chronic and contributes to increased risk for later suicidality, mood, and substance use disorders. 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. Low intensity telehealth delivery of services is a promising method to improve access to care for youth with anxiety and their families, given its reachability to a wider range of areas (e.g., rural/underserved) and its ability to minimize practical barriers (e.g., treatment could be delivered to the youth's home without need for travel), and reduce stigma (e.g., parents do not need to visit mental health clinics). 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. PCET is designed to treat anxiety more effectively and efficiently, allowing for fewer sessions and greater symptom remission than standard-care CBT. 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.

Conditions

• Obsessive 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

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Parent Coached Exposure Therapy	Parent-based cognitive behavioral therapy with guidance from a therapist
BEHAVIORAL	Family Based, Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy	Family-based cognitive behavioral therapy employing internet-delivered modules and videos

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-07-01
• Primary completion: 2028-06-30
• Completion: 2028-06-30
• First posted: 2025-06-17
• Last updated: 2025-07-20

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States