Brief CBT for Pediatric Anxiety and Depression in Primary Care (BCBT) Study
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5/3/2010-1/31/2015
This study tested whether a brief cognitive behavioral therapy (BCBT) program worked better than a strong referral to specialty mental health care for children ages 8–15 with anxiety or depression. Over five years, researchers at two sites enrolled 210 kids and randomly assigned them to receive BCBT in primary care or to get enhanced referrals to outside mental health services. A smaller pilot study had already shown that BCBT was acceptable to families and helpful, so this larger study tested it in a more diverse group. Independent evaluators checked the children’s progress at 16 and 32 weeks, measuring overall improvement and changes in anxiety and depression symptoms. The researchers also studied which factors, like having more severe depression, affected how well kids responded to treatment. Because many families get mental health care in primary care settings, this study helped show whether BCBT could be an effective, practical, and cost-efficient option for real-world use.
Selected Primary Outcome Papers:
- PMC - Brief Behavioral Therapy for Pediatric Anxiety and Depression in Primary Care: A Randomized Clinical Trial
- PMC - The Child and Adolescent Services Assessment: Interrater Reliability and Predictors of Rater Disagreement
- PMC - Brief Behavioral Therapy for Pediatric Anxiety and Depression in Primary Care: A Follow-Up RH = Brief Behavior Therapy in Primary Care
- PMC - Early Indicators of Response to Transdiagnostic Treatment of Pediatric Anxiety and Depression
- PubMed - Brief Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety and Depression in Pediatric Primary Care: Breadth of Intervention Impact
- PMC - Impact of Trauma Exposure and Depressiojn Comorbidity on Response to Transdiagnostic Behavioral Therapy for Pediatric Anxiety and Depression