Receipt of evidence-based care for children and adolescents with anxiety in Australia. (November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gandhi, Esther; OGradey-Lee, Maddison; Jones, Alana; Hudson, Jennifer L
• Is Part Of: Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry. Volume 56:Number 11(2022)
• Page Start: 1463
• Page End: 1476
• Publication Date: 2022-11
• Subjects: Child -- cognitive-behavioural therapy -- adolescent -- anxiety; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Australia -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- New Zealand -- Periodicals; 616.89005
• DOI: 10.1177/00048674211068780
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0004-8674

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.