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Evaluation ViewAttendees 6

Category: Child / Adolescent - Anxiety

Symposium 26 - Technological Advances in Experimental and Behavioral Treatments for Anxiety and OCD in Youth

Saturday, November 18, 2023
2:30 PM – 4:00 PM PST
Location: Washougal (408), Level 4
CE: 1.5

Keywords: Anxiety, OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), Treatment
Level of Familiarity: All
Recommended Readings: Pettit, J. W., Bechor, M., Rey, Y., Vasey, M. W., Abend, R., Pine, D. S., ... & Silverman, W. K. (2020). A randomized controlled trial of attention bias modification treatment in youth with treatment-resistant anxiety disorders. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 59(1), 157-165.,   Weersing, V. R., Brent, D. A., Rozenman, M. S., Gonzalez, A., Jeffreys, M., Dickerson, J. F., ... & Iyengar, S. (2017). Brief behavioral therapy for pediatric anxiety and depression in primary care: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA psychiatry, 74(6), 571-578.,   Tuerk, P. W., Schaeffer, C. M., McGuire, J. F., Adams Larsen, M., Capobianco, N., & Piacentini, J. (2019). Adapting evidence-based treatments for digital technologies: a critical review of functions, tools, and the use of branded solutions. Current psychiatry reports, 21, 1-13.,   ,  

Anxiety and its related disorders collectively comprise the most common class of mental health problems in youth. However, treatments are costly and difficult to access. Use of technology to improve service access and options may provide a pathway forward for the field to continue improving intervention efficacy/effectiveness and simultaneously increase access. This symposium will focus on recent technological advances in both experimental and psychosocial/behavioral treatment approaches for youth anxiety to improve intervention efficacy, effectiveness, and service access.

First, Dr. Jeremy Pettit will present data from two completed clinical trials testing computerized attention bias modification in stepped care and treatment-resistant anxiety disorders, followed by description of an ongoing trial of attention bias modification aimed at understanding mechanisms underlying anxiety reduction in youth. This presentation provides important empirical guidance on possible implementation strategies and next research tests of this technology-based intervention. Second, Dr. Michelle Rozenman will present data from a recently completed randomized controlled trial of computerized interpretation bias modification for youth anxiety disorders using a technology-assisted stimuli selection procedure so that the intervention stimuli directly target the most problematic symptoms endorsed by youth and caregivers during clinical interview. This work highlights feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of tailoring experimental intervention stimuli to improve intervention potency. In the third talk, Dr. Robin Weersing presents results from two pilot open trials of a brief behavioral therapy (BBT) for youth anxiety and/or depression in pediatric primary care in two settings: a large integrated health system and in low-resource community health clinics. This talk focuses on how treatment access and treatment outcomes might be impacted by telehealth sessions facilitated by website content for both behavioral health providers embedded in primary care, as well as participating families. Finally, Dr. John Piacentini will present use of OC-Go, a HIPAA-compliant, asynchronous digital health platform designed to address barriers underlying out-of-session exposure therapy exercises for youth with OCD receiving exposure-based treatment. This presentation includes information about this app interface, which guides patients through step-by-step interactive assignments in real time, as well as its integration into treatment sessions and planning for out-of-session exposures.
Finally, discussant Dr. Jon Comer, director of the Mental Health Interventions & Technology lab at Florida International University, will discuss how these studies represent diversity in their experimental and/or behavioral approaches, yet unity in garnering technology to improve the armamentarium of treatments for anxious youth. Research and clinical implications will be discussed, including next immediate steps for using technology to advance treatment efficacy/effectiveness and reduce disparities in mental health service access for anxiety and related problems in youth.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of the session, the learner will be able to:
  • Describe current challenges in service access for anxious youth.
  • Define and describe at least one computer/technology-based experimental intervention approach toward addressing youth anxiety.
  • Identify at least one technology-based adaptation in youth psychotherapy for anxiety and/or OCD.
  • Discuss current strengths and challenges in technology-assisted intervention research for youth anxiety-related disorders.
  • Consider how technology might be utilized in the attendees' own research and/or clinical practice.