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Topic: Anxiety Treatment (Child & Adolescent)

Scientific Ratings in this topic:
1 - Well-Supported by Research Evidence
2 - Supported by Research Evidence
3 - Promising Research Evidence
4 - Evidence Fails to Demonstrate Effect
5 - Concerning Practice
NR - Not able to be Rated
Learn more about the scale

Definition for Anxiety Treatment (Child & Adolescent):

Anxiety Treatment (Child & Adolescent) is defined as the treatment of youth with a diagnosis of an anxiety disorder, or with elevated symptoms of anxiety as demonstrated by a standardized screening or assessment tool. Common symptoms may include excessive worry and anxiety, panic, irritability, difficulty concentrating, muscle tension, restlessness, fatigue, and palpitations. The CEBC has evaluated only replicable programs that do not use medication as an essential component of treatment.

Why was Anxiety Treatment (Child & Adolescent) chosen as a topic by the Advisory Committee? (Click for Answer)

This topic was chosen by the Advisory Committee to highlight the need for timely, appropriate, and effective anxiety treatment services that support children and families in achieving successful outcomes. Documented research shows that children who enter the child welfare system, particularly those that are removed from their home, experience a significantly higher rate of mental health problems, including anxiety than children in the general population. This is not surprising, and is likely the result of a number of contributing factors. These factors may include events that precipitated child welfare intervention including abuse, neglect, and abandonment, as well as factors associated with placement, including separation, loss, anger, and fear.

While the child welfare system has historically focused on the physical and safety needs of children, emerging practice within agencies across the country is to now take into account the emotional needs of children as well. Child welfare agencies along with mental health providers have come to recognize that early assessment and timely treatment intervention play a key role in ensuring successful outcomes for children. As a result, a growing number of new initiatives and programs are being implemented within California counties that support the delivery of an array of mental health services to children and families receiving child welfare services. These services range from mental health screening and assessment to individualized treatment for identified needs.

Additionally, there is heightened awareness among professionals that the delivery of children's mental health services must be carefully coordinated across child serving agencies to thoroughly address their complex needs.Whether children remain living with their parents or are placed outside the home, it is critical that all children in the child welfare system be screened and assessed. Moreover, parents and caregivers must be trained to identify early signs of mental distress enabling them to seek early intervention and appropriate care and treatment.

Marilynne Garrison
Division Chief, Out of Home Care
Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services

Programs in this topic area

Here are your search results for programs in the area of Anxiety Treatment (Child & Adolescent):

The programs listed below have been reviewed by the CEBC and, if appropriate, been rated using the Scientific Rating Scale.

Programs with a Scientific Rating of 1 - Well-Supported by Research Evidence:

  • Coping Cat – detailed view
    [Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety in Youth]
    Topics: Anxiety Treatment (Child & Adolescent)
    Children experiencing problematic levels of anxiety
  • Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) – detailed view
    Topics: Anxiety Treatment (Child & Adolescent), Trauma Treatment (Child & Adolescent)
    Children with a known trauma history who are experiencing significant Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms, whether or not they meet ...

Programs with a Scientific Rating of 2 - Supported by Research Evidence:

  • Building Confidence – detailed view
    Topics: Anxiety Treatment (Child & Adolescent)
    Typically developing school-aged children diagnosed with childhood anxiety disorders (6-11 years old) and their families.
  • Prolonged Exposure Therapy for Adolescents (PE-A) – detailed view
    Topics: Anxiety Treatment (Child & Adolescent), Trauma Treatment (Child & Adolescent)
    Adolescents who have experienced a trauma (e.g., sexual assault, car accident, violent crimes, etc). The program has also been ...

Programs with a Scientific Rating of 3 - Promising Research Evidence: