Internet-delivered CBT for children with specific phobia: a pilot study.

Area of Science:

• Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology
• Digital Health Interventions

Background:

• Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is effective for childhood specific phobia, but access remains a barrier.
• Internet-delivered CBT offers a scalable solution to increase treatment availability for youth.
• This study addresses the need for accessible, evidence-based interventions for pediatric specific phobia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a six-week Internet-delivered CBT program for children with specific phobia.
• To assess symptom severity, global functioning, anxiety, and quality of life in youth undergoing this novel treatment.
• To determine the short-term maintenance of treatment effects.

Main Methods:

• An open trial involving 30 children (aged 8-12) and their parents diagnosed with specific phobia.
• Six weeks of therapist-supported Internet-delivered CBT, with initial modules focused on parents.
• Primary outcome: Clinician Severity Rating (CSR); Secondary outcomes: clinician-rated global functioning, child/parent-reported anxiety and quality of life, assessed pre-treatment, post-treatment, and at 3-month follow-up.

Main Results:

• Significant reductions in Clinician Severity Rating (CSR) were observed post-treatment (Cohen's d = 1.0).
• 35% of children no longer met diagnostic criteria for specific phobia after treatment.
• Child and parent self-reports indicated significant reductions in anxiety (small to moderate effect sizes), with effects sustained at follow-up.

Conclusions:

• Internet-delivered CBT with therapist support shows potential for reducing symptom severity in pediatric specific phobia.
• This treatment format may improve accessibility to evidence-based care for youth.
• Further evaluation through randomized controlled trials is warranted to confirm these findings.