Advances in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Youth with Anxiety Disorders: A Brief Summary

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has burgeoned as the leader in psychosocial treatments for anxious children and adolescents. Despite the established efficacy of CBT for youth with anxiety, there is a disparity amongst individuals and families in need of services, and accessibility to qualified practitioners who can effectively deliver empirically supported treatments. Additionally, a substantial number of children either do not respond at all to CBT or do not achieve sustained improvement. As a result, recent research in the area of childhood anxiety disorders focuses on extending treatment delivery of CBT to families who may not have direct access to trained clinicians, and expanding treatment to youth with comorbid conditions and treatment non-responders. This paper provides a preferably brief overview of research on advancements in the delivery of cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxious youth, discusses practical considerations, and highlights the current state of intervention research in this area. Specifically, the goals of this literature review are to consider innovative adaptations of CBT for anxious youth in the last decade with a particular focus on: (a) computer and Internet-delivered interventions and clinician training platforms; (b) the potential of videoteleconferencing service delivery methods; (c) treatment personalization via modular interventions targeting individual strengths and addressing responsivity to treatment; and, (d) transdiagnostic approaches for youth with anxiety and comorbid disorders. Barriers and implications for future research and interventions are discussed.