Computerised therapies for anxiety and depression in children and young people: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
One quarter of children and young people (CYP) experience anxiety and/or depression before adulthood, but treatment is sometimes unavailable or inadequate. Self-help interventions may have a role in augmenting treatment and this work aimed to systematically review the evidence for computerised anxiety and depression interventions in CYP aged 5-25 years old. Databases were searched for randomised controlled trials and 27 studies were identified. For young people (12-25 years) with risk of diagnosed anxiety disorders or depression, computerised CBT (cCBT) had positive effects for symptoms of anxiety (SMD -0.77, 95% CI -1.45 to -0.09, k = 6, N = 220) and depression (SMD -0.62, 95% CI -1.13 to -0.11, k = 7, N = 279). In a general population study of young people, there were small positive effects for anxiety (SMD -0.15, 95% CI -0.26 to -0.03; N = 1273) and depression (SMD -0.15, 95% CI -0.26 to -0.03; N = 1280). There was uncertainty around the effectiveness of cCBT in children (5-11 years). Evidence for other computerised interventions was sparse and inconclusive. Computerised CBT has potential for treating and preventing anxiety and depression in clinical and general populations of young people. Further program development and research is required to extend its use and establish its benefit in children.
National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health, Royal College of Psychiatrists, London, UK. Electronic address: marypennant@outlook.com.
Mary E
ME
Pennant
National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health, Royal College of Psychiatrists, London, UK.
Christina E
CE
Loucas
National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health, Royal College of Psychiatrists, London, UK; Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK.
Craig
C
Whittington
School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, The University of Reading, UK.
Cathy
C
Creswell
Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, UK.
Peter
P
Fonagy
Anna Freud Centre, London, UK.
Peter
P
Fuggle
Royal College of Paediatrics & Child Health, London, UK; Cambridge & Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK; Cambridge University, UK.
Raphael
R
Kelvin
National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health, Royal College of Psychiatrists, London, UK.
Sabrina
S
Naqvi
National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health, Royal College of Psychiatrists, London, UK.
Sarah
S
Stockton
National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health, Royal College of Psychiatrists, London, UK.
Tim
T
Kendall
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003201:Computers; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D063731:Mobile Applications; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
Adolescent psychology; Anxiety; Child psychology; Depression; Internet-delivered cognitive behaviour therapy; Meta-analysis