title: The Length of Child Anxiety Treatment in a Regional Health System.
abstract: Anxiety disorders are often undertreated due to unsuccessful dissemination of evidence-based treatments (EBTs). Lack of empirical data regarding the typical length of treatment in clinical settings may hamper the development of clinically relevant protocols. The current study examined billing records for 335 children ages 7-17 years to quantify the treatment received for newly diagnosed anxiety disorders within a regional health system. The vast majority of patients did not receive a sufficient number of appointments to complete the typical cognitive behavioral therapy protocol or reach the sessions introducing exposure. Although half of the sample received pharmacotherapy, the vast majority received fewer follow-up appointments than participants in pharmacotherapy research studies. Further, the type of treatment (i.e., number of sessions and medication) differed depending on utilization of specialty care. These results underscore the need to develop brief and flexible EBT protocols that can be standardized and implemented in community practice.
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Mayo Bldg West 11, 200 First St., SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA. whiteside.stephen@mayo.edu.
authors: Stephen P H
authors: SP
authors: Whiteside
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Mayo Bldg West 11, 200 First St., SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.
authors: Chelsea M
authors: CM
authors: Ale
authors: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychology, Marshfield Clinic, Eau Claire, WI, USA.
authors: Brennan
authors: B
authors: Young
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Mayo Bldg West 11, 200 First St., SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.
authors: Mark W
authors: MW
authors: Olsen
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Mayo Bldg West 11, 200 First St., SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.
authors: Bridget K
authors: BK
authors: Biggs
authors: Department of Biomedical Statistics and Informatics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors: Melissa S
authors: MS
authors: Gregg
authors: Department of Biomedical Statistics and Informatics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors: Jennifer R
authors: JR
authors: Geske
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Mayo Bldg West 11, 200 First St., SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.
authors: Kendra
authors: K
authors: Homan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D002669:Child Welfare; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents
keywords: Anxiety disorders; Child; Community care; Evidence-based treatment; Health system data