Brief Behavioral Therapy Research Articles

Impact of trauma exposure and depression comorbidity on response to transdiagnostic behavioral therapy for pediatric anxiety and depression

By adolescence, two-thirds of youth report exposure to at least one traumatic event, yet the impact of trauma history is not routinely considered when evaluating the effect of psychotherapeutic interventions. Trauma may be a particularly important moderator of the effects of transdiagnostic therapies for emotional disorders, as trauma exposure is associated with risk for the development of comorbid depression and anxiety. The current study examined the history of trauma exposure and the presence of clinically significant depression as moderators of treatment outcomes in the Brief Behavioral Therapy (BBT) trial, the largest study of transdiagnostic psychotherapy for youth. Youths (age 8–16 years) were randomized to BBT (n = 89) based in pediatric primary care or assisted referral to outpatient community care (ARC; n = 86). Clinical response, functioning, anxiety symptoms, and depression symptoms were assessed at post-treatment (Week 16) and at follow-up (Week 32). A significant three-way interaction emerged between the treatment group, comorbid depression, and trauma exposure. BBT was broadly effective for 3/4 of the sample, but, for anxious-depressed youth with trauma exposure, BBT never significantly separated from ARC. Differences in outcome were not accounted for by other participant characteristics or by therapist-rated measures of alliance, youth engagement, or homework completion. Implications for models of learning and for intervention theory and development are discussed.

Reduction in avoidance mediates effects of brief behavioral therapy for pediatric anxiety and depression

Brief behavioral therapy (BBT) is an efficacious transdiagnostic intervention for pediatric anxiety and depression that targets behavioral avoidance as a key mechanism. It is unknown if change in avoidance mediates treatment effects, as theorized. Data on avoidance at baseline and Week 16 were available on 52 youth (ages 8–16 years) from a randomized controlled trial (Weersing, Jeffreys, et al., 2017) comparing BBT and assisted referral to community care (ARC). BBT had significant effects on youth-reported behavioral avoidance, and significant indirect effects on functioning and anxiety, statistically mediated through changes in youth-reported behavioral avoidance. Change in youth-reported avoidance was not a significant mediator of depression. Parent-report of avoidance was not impacted by treatment and was not a significant mediator. Overall, BBT appears to be an effective treatment for targeting behavioral avoidance, which in turn, may improve functioning and lessen anxiety. Clinical trial registration informationhttps://clinicaltrials.gov; NCT01147614.

Brief Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety and Depression in Pediatric Primary Care: Breadth of Intervention Impact

To report on broad-based outcomes of the Brief Behavioral Therapy (BBT) trial for pediatric anxiety and depression. Secondary data analyses expand on previous reports by assessing diagnostic remission and independent functioning, impact on targeted psychopathology, and spillover effects on non-targeted outcomes. Youth (N= 185; 8-16.9 years; 58% female; 78% White; 21% Hispanic) with anxiety and/or depression were eligible for this multi-site trial. Enrolled youth were randomly assigned to receive 8 to 12 sessions of BBT in primary care or assisted referral to outpatient care (ARC). Assessments were conducted 16 and 32 weeks post randomization. BBT was superior to ARC on remission of all targeted diagnoses (week 16: 56.8% vs 28.2%, p< .001; week 32: 62.5% vs 38.9%, p= .004), clinician-rated independent functioning (week 16: 75.0% vs 45.7%, p< .001; week 32: 81.2% vs 55.7%, p< .001), and on measures of anxiety, depression, suicide items, total comorbid behavioral and emotional problems, and hyperactivity (d= 0.21-0.49). Moderation analyses revealed superior outcomes for Hispanic youth in BBT vs ARC for diagnostic remission, anxiety, emotional problems, and parent-child conflict. Youth depression at baseline moderated effects on peer problems and parent-child conflict, with effects favoring BBT. Significant main and moderated effects of BBT on change in non-targeted outcomes were largely mediated by change in anxiety (24.2%-49.3% of total effects mediated). BBT has positive effects on youth, mediated by the strong impact of the intervention on anxiety. Analyses continue to support positive outcomes for Hispanic youth, suggesting that BBT is a broadly effective transdiagnostic treatment option for diverse populations. Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Pediatric Anxiety and Depression in Primary Care; https://clinicaltrials.gov; NCT01147614.

1.1 Brief Behavioral Therapy for Pediatric Anxiety and Depression in Primary Care: A Follow-up

To report on the 32-week outcome of the Brief Behavioral Therapy (BBT) for Pediatric Anxiety and Depression in Primary Care clinical trial.

Cost-effectiveness of Brief Behavioral Therapy for Pediatric Anxiety and Depression in Primary Care

Youth anxiety and depression are common and undertreated. Pediatric transdiagnostic interventions for anxiety and/or depression may be associated with improved access to treatment among youths. To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of a pediatric transdiagnostic brief behavioral therapy (BBT) program for anxiety and/or depression compared with assisted referral to community outpatient mental health care (ARC). In this economic evaluation, an incremental cost-effectiveness analysis was performed from the societal perspective using data from a randomized clinical trial of youths with full or probable diagnoses of anxiety or depression who were recruited from pediatric clinics in San Diego, California, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The trial was conducted from October 6, 2010, through December 5, 2014, and this analysis was performed from January 1, 2019, through October 20, 2020. In the randomized clinical trial, youths were randomized to BBT (n = 95) or ARC (n = 90). The BBT program consisted of 8 to 12 weekly 45-minute sessions of behavioral therapy delivered in pediatric clinics by master's-level therapists. Families randomized to ARC received personalized referrals to mental health care and telephone calls to support access to care. Anxiety-free days, depression-free days, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), and costs based on incremental cost-effectiveness ratios from intake through 32-week follow-up. A cost-effectiveness acceptability curve for QALYs was used to assess the probability that BBT was cost-effective compared with ARC over a range of amounts that a decision-maker might be willing to pay for an additional outcome. Enrolled patients included 185 youths (mean [SD] age, 11.3 [2.6] years; 107 [57.8%] female; 144 [77.8%] White; and 38 [20.7%] Hispanic). Youths who received BBT experienced significantly more anxiety-free days (difference, 28.63 days; 95% CI, 5.86-50.71 days; P = .01) and QALYs (difference, 0.026; 95% CI, 0.009-0.046; P = .007) compared with youths who received ARC. Youths who received BBT experienced more depression-free days than did youths who received ARC (difference, 10.52 days; 95% CI, -4.50 to 25.76 days; P = .18), but the difference was not statistically significant. The mean incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was -$41 414 per QALY (95% CI, -$220 601 to $11 468). The cost-effectiveness acceptability curve analysis indicated that, at a recommended willingness-to-pay threshold of $50 000 per QALY, the probability that BBT would be cost-effective compared with ARC at 32 weeks was 95.6%. In this economic evaluation, BBT in primary care was significantly associated with better outcomes and a greater probability of cost-effectiveness at 32 weeks compared with ARC. The findings suggest that transdiagnostic BBT may be associated with improved youth anxiety and functioning at a reasonable cost.

Brief Behavioral Therapy for Pediatric Anxiety and Depression in Primary Care: A Follow-up

To report on the 32-week outcome of the Brief Behavioral Therapy (BBT) for Pediatric Anxiety and Depression in Primary Care clinical trial. A total of 185 youths aged 8 to 17 years with anxiety and/or depression identified through 9 pediatric primary care (PPC) settings in San Diego and Pittsburgh were randomized to receive Assisted Referral to Care (ARC) or up to 12 sessions of BBT over 16 weeks. The primary outcome was clinical response across anxiety and depression, defined as a Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement Score of≤2. Secondary outcomes included interview-rated functioning, depression, and anxiety. Here, we report on outcomes at 32 weeks after randomization. All analyses with primary outcomes are corrected for multiple comparisons using the false discovery rate procedure. At 32 weeks, BBT was superior to ARC with respect to response (67.5% versus 43.1%, q= 0.03, number needed to treat [NNT]= 5) and functioning (d= 0.49, q= 0.04). BBT was superior to ARC with respect to its impact on anxiety (f= 0.21) but not depressive symptoms (f= 0.05). These findings persisted after controlling for the number of sessions received. Ethnicity moderated the impact of BBT on outcome (NNT for Hispanic youths= 2), because of a much lower response rate to ARC in Hispanic than in non-Hispanic youths (16.7% versus 49.2%, p= 0.04). BBT is a promising intervention that can be effectively delivered in PPC and may be particularly effective for Hispanic patients. Further work is indicated to improve its impact on depressive symptoms and to test BBT against other treatments delivered in pediatric primary care. Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Pediatric Anxiety and Depression in Primary Care; http://clinicaltrials.gov; NCT01147614.

Clinical Practice Guideline on Management of Sleep Disorders in the Elderly.

Clinical Practice Guideline on Management of Sleep Disorders in the Elderly.