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A Meta-Analysis on the Efficacy of Technology Mediated CBT for Anxious Children and Adolescents

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Abstract

Several meta-analyses indicate that cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) via electronic/technological devices or applications (i.e., eCBT) is an effective alternative to standard therapist-delivered CBT for anxious adults. However, we know little about the efficacy of eCBT interventions for anxious children and adolescents. The present meta-analysis set out to investigate the efficacy of eCBT in comparison to standard CBT or waitlist control for anxious children and adolescents. Eight randomized controlled studies (N = 404 participants) that targeted anxiety at post-intervention and follow-up were included in the analysis. The results indicated that eCBT was as effective as standard CBT (g = .295) and more effective than waitlist (g = 1.410) in reducing anxiety symptoms. Moderation analyses revealed that anxious children and adolescents benefited the most from eCBT in the minimal therapist involvement condition (g = 2.682) in contrast to the significant therapist involvement group (g = .326). Furthermore, older participants seemed to extract greater clinical benefits from eCBT in contrast to younger participants (slope = .514). Current eCBT interventions for anxious children and adolescents appear to be promising, but require further investigation.

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Notes

  1. eCBT stands for CBT healthcare practices supported by electronic/technological devices. Electronic/technologically mediated CBT (i.e., eCBT) is part of the broader concept of eMental Health (eMH).

  2. Phone or tablet applications relying on CBT could not be added to the meta-analysis. Despite our extensive search, no articles on portable devices were found for anxious youth.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a Grant of the Romanian National Authority for Scientific Research, CNCS—UEFISCDI, Project number PN-II-PT-PCCA-2011-3.1-1500, contract number 81/2012, coordinated by Dr. Anca Dobrean. Furthermore, Ioana Podina’s contribution to this work was also possible with the financial support of the Sectorial Operational Program for Human Resources Development 2007–2013, co-financed by the European Social Fund, under the project number POSDRU/159/1.5/S/132400 with the title “Young successful researchers—professional development in an international and interdisciplinary environment”. The authors would also like to thank Mirela Mohan proof reading this paper.

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  1. Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Babeş-Bolyai University, No. 37, Republicii St., 400015, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

    Ioana R. Podina, Cristina Mogoase, Daniel David, Aurora Szentagotai & Anca Dobrean

  2. Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA

    Daniel David

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  1. Ioana R. Podina
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Podina, I.R., Mogoase, C., David, D. et al. A Meta-Analysis on the Efficacy of Technology Mediated CBT for Anxious Children and Adolescents. J Rat-Emo Cognitive-Behav Ther 34, 31–50 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10942-015-0228-5

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