title: Online CBT for preschool anxiety disorders: a randomised control trial.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of an internet-based, therapist assisted, parent-focussed, CBT program for preschoolers with anxiety disorders. Fifty-two children aged 3-6 years were randomly allocated into internet treatment (NET) and waitlist control (WLC) groups. Parents completed diagnostic interviews and online questionnaires at pre-treatment, post-treatment and 6-month follow-up. Results at post-treatment showed a significantly greater reduction in clinical severity, anxiety symptoms and internalising behaviour, as well as a greater increase in overall functioning for children in the NET compared to the WLC condition. However, group differences were not evident from pre- to post-treatment on the percentages of children who lost their primary anxiety diagnosis or who lost all anxiety diagnoses. At post-treatment for the completer sample, 39.1% of the NET children compared to 25.9% of the WLC were free of their primary diagnosis. At 6-month follow-up, treatment gains were maintained in the case of overall functioning and further improved upon with respect to clinical severity, anxiety symptoms and internalising behaviour. By 6-month follow-up for the completer sample, 70.6% of children were free of their primary diagnosis. The results suggest that an internet program for preschool anxiety is feasible, efficacious and well received by parents.
  ACTRN12612000139875.
authors.affiliation: School of Applied Psychology and the Behavioural Basis of Health, Griffith University, Mount Gravatt Campus, Mount Gravatt, QLD, 4122, Australia. Electronic address: c.donovan@griffith.edu.au.
authors.forename: Caroline L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Donovan
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Counselling and Community, University of Southern Queensland, Springfield, QLD, 4300, Australia.
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: March
mesh_terms: D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Anxiety; Internet-based treatment; Preschool