Implementing a Cognitive Behavioral Skills Program for Anxious Youth: A Knowledge Translation Project

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is an underutilized evidence-based treatment for Anxiety Disorders. Increasing effective knowledge translation and implementation of CBT has significant public health implications. This study sought to increase the use of CBT by providing a 20-week-group-supervision program to Northern Ontario. Therapist measures of CBT knowledge competence were collected pre and post training, and treatment outcome measures were obtained by child and parent report. Clients in Northern Ontario were older (M=11.6years, Toronto M=10.0 years), were more likely on medication, and more likely to have a comorbid diagnosis than clients from an existing data-set in Toronto, Ontario. The training program was successful in increasing CBT knowledge competence and decreasing client anxiety in both locations, with greater improvements in self-reported anxiety in the Northern Ontario group. Therapist CBT knowledge competence was predictive of client symptom change as reported by parent but not child. Two therapist variables were found to be moderators.MAS