Main

Rooksby M, Elouafkaoui P et al. J Anxiety Disord 2015; 29: 83–92

What is 'the efficacy of online or computer-assisted CBT programmes for anxiety-disordered children'? The search strategy used by these investigators returned 696 publications, from which 38 met inclusion criteria. On examining these, the number was expanded to 47 papers. Final screening resulted in 6 papers. This systematic review did not state the cause of the anxieties in these children. It was conceded that there was selection bias within these studies; those families that accessed such services were sympathetic to this approach and, the children were usually from mid-high income families, as reflected by a home internet connection. Surprisingly, only two studies presented data on compliance and completion. However, meta-analysis showed 'a clear moderate effect size in a positive direction in favour of the online CBT intervention.' Notwithstanding this, when linking diagnosis and treatment outcome 'between 19 and 70% of children at post-intervention still remained within the diagnosis range.'