Receipt of evidence-based care for children and adolescents with anxiety in Australia.
Aust N Z J Psychiatry
; 56(11): 1463-1476, 2022 11.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1625200
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
Cognitive-behavioural therapy is recommended as the first-line treatment for children and adolescents with anxiety. Despite its efficacy, a recent United Kingdom study indicated that few children with anxiety disorders receive cognitive-behavioural therapy. The primary aim of this study was to examine the receipt of cognitive-behavioural therapy for children and adolescents with elevated anxiety symptoms in Australia. Second, this study also examined whether there was a difference in the type of treatment received based on socioeconomic status and geographical location.METHOD:
Using self-reported questionnaires, parents of children aged 4-18 years and children aged 12-18 years (N = 784; elevated anxiety symptom sample n = 169) were recruited from four samples community (n = 164), school (n = 177), clinic (n = 16) and online panel provider (n = 427). Participants reported on the child's anxiety symptoms and the type of treatment (if any) the child received for their anxiety symptoms.RESULTS:
Results indicated that 19.5% of children and adolescents with elevated anxiety symptoms received evidence-based treatment (e.g. cognitive-behavioural therapy). Of those families who did seek help for anxiety in Australia, the majority (66.3%) did not receive cognitive-behavioural therapy. In addition, neither socioeconomic status (which was based on the Australian Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage [ICSEA]) nor location (metropolitan vs regional/remote) affected whether individuals received evidence-based care or non-evidence-based care.CONCLUSION:
Overall, children and adolescents in this study seeking support for their anxiety symptoms were not receiving adequate evidence-based care, regardless of socioeconomic status and location. These findings indicate there is a need to increase the receipt of cognitive-behavioural therapy for children and adolescents with anxiety symptoms. The findings should tentatively be interpreted, given data were collected during the COVID-19 pandemic.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Pandemics
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Observational study
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Child
/
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Oceania
Language:
English
Journal:
Aust N Z J Psychiatry
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
00048674211068780
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