The Impact of Computer-Based CBT on Adolescent Anxiety: A Review

This report investigates the efficacy of computer-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in treating anxiety disorders among adolescents. It begins by highlighting the prevalence of anxiety disorders in this age group and the challenges associated with traditional CBT approaches, such as perceived stigma and accessibility issues. The report then explores how computer-based treatments, including online programs and interactive platforms, offer increased convenience and engagement for young patients. It discusses the core components of CBT, including psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring, and exposure techniques, and how these are adapted for computer-based delivery. The report presents research findings on the effectiveness of computer-based CBT, emphasizing its potential as a standalone treatment or as an adjunct to traditional therapy. It concludes with a discussion on the positive feedback from adolescents and their families, the importance of a therapeutic relationship, and the potential of technology to improve mental health outcomes for young people. The report references several key studies and provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of computer-based CBT in adolescent mental health care.

Running head: IMPACT OF COMPUTER BASED CBT FOR ADOLSCENTS
IMPACT OF COMPUTER BASED CBT FOR ADOLSCENTS
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1IMPACT OF COMPUTER BASED CBT FOR ADOLESCENTS
Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................2
CBT for child and adolescent anxiety disorders:.......................................................................2
Issue in traditional CBT approach:............................................................................................3
Effectiveness of computer-based treatments:.............................................................................4
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................4
Discussion:.................................................................................................................................5
References..................................................................................................................................6

2IMPACT OF COMPUTER BASED CBT FOR ADOLESCENTS
Introduction
Anxiety disorders is considered as one of the most communal psychiatric conditions,
with effecting 5% to 19% of all teenagers and adolescents (James et al., 2013). The
diagnostic complications with this age crowd comprises differentiating normal,
developmentally suitable concerns, worries and nervousness from anxiety conditions.
Differentiating structures of extreme anxiety consist of sternness, perseverance and related
impairment. Proper knowledge of anxiety with different developmental configurations is
important. Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) is effective and operational for a large
population of youngsters and adolescents dealing with anxiety disorders (Allens, Myrsten &
Rollins, 2018). Although CBT is an effective treatment process for treating anxiety, few
significant populations of youngsters and teenagers do not obtain treatment. Various factors
are involved such as perceived disgrace of visiting a psychological treatment centre, poor
contact to psychological health facilities, and period or monetary constrictions to the family.
Certain technologies are introduced to solve these factors such as palm-top PCs, electronic
mail, internet usage; DVDs, CD-ROMs, computer-generated reality, mobile cell phone
transcript messaging, and communicating speech mail schemes have quickly developed as
self-aid treatment for psychological issues (Donovan, Spence & March, 2013). These
enhanced technologies upsurge convenience, accessibility and litheness of treatment and is
less costly than head-on therapy.
CBT for child and adolescent anxiety disorders:
The primary treatment for various emotive and communicative problems is cognitive
behavioural therapy (CBT) which is a practice of psychotherapy. In this method the therapist,
assist the clients to recognize own emotional and communicative difficulties and alter those
thoughts, which propagate it (Grist et al., 2018). In case of childhood anxiety syndromes,

3IMPACT OF COMPUTER BASED CBT FOR ADOLESCENTS
CBT has five machineries namely psycho training, somatic administration expertise training,
intellectual restructuring, exposure methodologies, and degeneration avoidance plans. In case
of anxiety conditions in youngsters and teenagers, CBT typically requires nine to twenty
sessions (Hana et al., 2019).
Source: (Hana et al., 2019)
Issue in traditional CBT approach:
However, cognitive behavioural therapy is widely accepted and considered as the
most useful therapy for treating anxiety disorder in almost in every age group. It also has
certain number of disadvantages in treatment for young generation mostly in teenagers and in
adolescents (Grist et al., 2018). Where teenagers generally have concern about damage and
ordinary events, the grown-up kids and adolescents usually have suspicions and worries
connected to school appraisals, social capability and health problems. Due to the undeveloped
mind-set of such youngsters where they lack in understanding the concept of health care
centres and psychological treatment they feel disgrace in visiting a mental doctor and usually
avoid their treatment, which in turn worse their mental condition even more(Allens, Myrsten
& Rollins, 2018). The routine system of treatment is boring for them to accept and they get

4IMPACT OF COMPUTER BASED CBT FOR ADOLESCENTS
distracted easily. Youngsters and adolescent have a continuous fear of being bullied in school
or tuition for their mental condition, which in turn lead them to depression that is even worse.
Hence, to overcome such issue with traditional CBT treatment new modified computer based
treatment is accepted for youngster and adolescent (Allens, Myrsten & Rollins, 2018).
Effectiveness of computer-based treatments:
Computer-based treatment are now widely accepted by adolescent and numerous
research study is published signifying operative use of this treatment either as an
unaccompanied action or as an addition to conventional head-on treatment. Internet-grounded
CBT plan called BRAVE-ONLINE is released worldwide for youngsters and adolescents
dealing with anxiety syndrome (Donovan, Spence & March, 2013). This programme contains
ten adolescence sessions, six parental sittings and two promoter sessions. Each adolescent is
assigned with a psychotherapist who observes the child improvement after each sitting and
directs a weekly heath report through electronic mail providing reassurance, support and
assistance when essential. This computer based treatment got a new hope in youngsters as
their problem of visiting the mental health centre was reduced, they could continue their
treatment using computer at their home. The computer based CBT programs have an
interesting approach that keeps the youngster engaged and full of enthusiasm to actively
participate in the program unlike the traditional method, which was way boring and vague for
such youngsters to concentrate (Stallard, Croker & Denne, 2018). Hence, the results proved
that computer-based therapy was useful in reducing the anxiety of anxious adults producing
significant result.
Conclusion
The new generation youngsters and adolescents are born in this high-tech era.
Computers, cell phones, laptops and laptop games are part of their everyday life. Such

5IMPACT OF COMPUTER BASED CBT FOR ADOLESCENTS
children adjust very easily in this standard and feel relaxed and happy within it (Stallard,
Croker & Denne, 2018). Hence, this medium helps the youngster to easily carry forward their
treatment with enthusiasm and interest thereby reducing their anxiety level. Computer-based
therapy is considered as an exciting innovation for adolescent (Fordham et al., 2018). The
investigation recommend that Internet-based CBT for reducing child anxiety conditions, with
least therapist provision, offers potential in dealing with a significant section of kids with
anxiety issue. The Internet CBT approach was accompanied with adequate consumer
gratification with great levels of reliability that were almost alike with the clinic-based CBT
programs where a child had to visit the clinic for reducing their anxiety disorders (James et
al., 2013).
Discussion:
Computer-based CBT treatment program had a positive feedback. This program
comprehensively illustrates the means using which a computer-based CBT program could be
used efficaciously in the treatment of teenager and adolescent anxiety (Fordham et al., 2018).
This program engaged both teenagers and their parentages for the computer-based CBT
program, where they participating actively and were motivated to be a part of the program.
Despite of the fact that the program was conducted online and even the therapist was in
virtual contact, an active therapeutic association was established and was considered as a
great success. The young generation and their families appraised the online mode CBT
program or delivery as positive, where the self-engaged surrounding linked to the program
was considered as the key factor or trigger factor resulting in their satisfaction (Sherman,
Braun & Ehrenreich, 2019).

6IMPACT OF COMPUTER BASED CBT FOR ADOLESCENTS
References
Allen, C. W., Diamond-Myrsten, S., & Rollins, L. K. (2018). School Absenteeism in
Children and Adolescents. American family physician, 98(12).
Donovan, C. L., Spence, S. H., & March, S. (2013). Using new technologies to deliver
cognitive behaviour therapy with children and adolescents. Cognitive behaviour
therapy for children and families, 629-662.
Fordham, B., Sugavanam, T., Hopewell, S., Hemming, K., Howick, J., Kirtley, S., ... &
Lamb, S. E. (2018). Effectiveness of cognitive–behavioural therapy: a protocol for an
overview of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. BMJ open, 8(12), e025761.
Grist, R., Croker, A., Denne, M., & Stallard, P. (2018). Technology Delivered Interventions
for Depression and Anxiety in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and
Meta-analysis. Clinical child and family psychology review, 1-25.
Hana, L. M., McIngvale, E., Davis, M., & Storch, E. A. (2019). CBT, medication and the
combination are effective for childhood anxiety. Evidence-based mental health, 22(1),
e4-e4.
James, A. C., James, G., Cowdrey, F. A., Soler, A., & Choke, A. (2013). Cognitive
behavioural therapy for anxiety disorders in children and adolescents. Cochrane
database of systematic reviews, (6).
Sherman, J. A., Braun, D. A., & Ehrenreich-May, J. (2019). Anxiety sensitivity treatment for
children and adolescents. In The Clinician's Guide to Anxiety Sensitivity Treatment
and Assessment (pp. 121-144). Academic Press.

7IMPACT OF COMPUTER BASED CBT FOR ADOLESCENTS
Stallard, P., Croker, A., & Denne, M. (2018). Technology Delivered Interventions for
Depression and Anxiety in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and
Meta-analysis.