Article
The Management of Childhood Anxiety Disorders in Ontario's Public Mental Health System
Canadian Psychology/Psychologie canadienne
(2014)
Abstract
Although cognitive−behavioural therapy (CBT) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are effective treatments for childhood anxiety disorders, the extent to which these interventions comprise usual care is unclear. This study evaluated the management of childhood anxiety in Ontario within 56 publicly funded community- and hospital-based mental health centers using a population survey. Psychologists and psychiatrists rated the frequency of interventions provided within their settings, with results highlighting only moderate access to evidence-based CBT and SSRI treatments. Exposure, a core component of CBT for anxiety, was underutilized. Usual care most often entailed psychoeducation, relaxation training, and family-based approaches. Consistent with established guidelines, combined interventions were typically used to treat moderate to severe levels of anxiety. Practitioners recommended similar care sequences, with the majority beginning with psychotherapy. Difficulties accessing CBT in publicly funded settings in Ontario may be due to the low number of practitioners with expertise in CBT. Implications for the translation and dissemination of evidence-based treatments into clinical settings are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)
Disciplines
Publication Date
2014
Citation Information
Heidi Haensel. "The Management of Childhood Anxiety Disorders in Ontario's Public Mental Health System" Canadian Psychology/Psychologie canadienne (2014) Available at: http://works.bepress.com/heidi-haensel/1/