Enhancing the Capacity of Pediatric Primary Care Providers: a Pilot Trial of Anxiety Action Plan
UConn Health
Summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to conduct a randomized controlled trial to enhance the capacity of pediatric primary care providers to assist their patients who struggle with anxiety. The study aims to refine and assess the feasibility of the Anxiety Action Plan (AxAP), a brief intervention to reduce pediatric anxiety, delivered by primary care providers (PCPs) in community pediatric primary care clinics. The goal of the AxAP is to enhance the capacity of PCPs to identify and intervene with anxious youth, which will enhance access to care in general and especially in locations with few mental health specialists. PCPs participating in this study will attend a training, administer the intervention to enrolled youth assigned to the MAPP condition, participate in coaching sessions, and fill out study questionnaires. Families participating in this study will complete evaluations with the study team, receive the intervention from their PCP (if assigned to the MAPP condition), and fill out study questionnaires. Researchers will compare the MAPP intervention to Enhanced Usual Care (EUC; consisting of videos, handouts, and other resources for anxiety reduction) to see the differences, if any, in child outcomes.
Description
Anxiety disorders in youth are: 1) the most prevalent psychiatric illnesses, 2) associated with severe disability, and 3) considered gateway disorders--as they predict a broad range of adult psychiatric and functional problems. Despite the high prevalence and impairment, less than half of anxious youth receive mental health services and access to evidenced-based interventions lags far behind that of less common psychiatric illnesses, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. This application addresses this mental health service gap and responds to NIH's priorities in PAR-MH-21-131: Pil…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 6–17 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria for youth: * 6-17 years of age * Have elevated anxiety symptoms as indicated by a total Screen for Child Anxiety Rated Disorders score between 20 and 55 based on parent and/or child report Exclusion Criteria for youth: * Have a medical or psychiatric condition contraindicating participation (e.g., suicidality) based on clinical interview * Are receiving psychosocial mental health treatment for anxiety Inclusion Criteria for PCPs: * PCPs must have a PA, RN, NP, APRN or MD degree and be at least a part time employee in a primary care setting. There are no other inclusion/…
Interventions
- BehavioralMAPP
Behavioral intervention based on exposure therapy strategies.
Location
- UConn HealthWest Hartford, Connecticut