Internet-delivered CBT for children with specific phobia: a pilot study.
BACKGROUND
Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) has been shown to be an effective treatment for specific phobia in youth, but not all affected seek or receive treatment. Internet-delivered CBT could be a way to increase the availability of empirically supported treatments.


OBJECTIVE
An open trial was conducted to evaluate Internet-delivered CBT for children with specific phobia.


METHODS
Children (N = 30) aged 8-12, and their parents, with a principal diagnosis of specific phobia were recruited through media advertisement. Participants received six weeks of Internet-delivered CBT with therapist support. The treatment was aimed for the parents and the children, with the first part being only for the parents. The primary outcome measure was the Clinician Severity Rating (CSR), and secondary measures included clinician-rated global functioning and child- and parent-reported anxiety and quality of life. All assessments were made at pretreatment, posttreatment, and three-month follow-up.


RESULTS
At posttreatment, there were significant reductions on the CSR, with a large within-group effect size (Cohen's d = 1.0) and 35% of children no longer meeting criteria for specific phobia. Self-report measures from parents and children showed significant effects on anxiety, with small to moderate effect sizes. Effects were maintained at three-month follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Results show that Internet-delivered CBT with therapist support for children with specific phobia has the potential to reduce symptom severity. Randomized controlled trials are needed to further evaluate this treatment format.
a Department of Clinical Neuroscience , Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden.
Sarah
S
Vigerland
Ulrika
U
Thulin
Brjánn
B
Ljótsson
Liv
L
Svirsky
Lars-Göran
LG
Ost
Nils
N
Lindefors
Gerhard
G
Andersson
Eva
E
Serlachius
D002648:Child; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome