%0 Journal Article
%@ 2561-6722
%I JMIR Publications
%V 5
%N 2
%P e33551
%T Internet-Delivered Interventions for Depression and Anxiety Symptoms in Children and Young People: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
%A Eilert,Nora
%A Wogan,Rebecca
%A Leen,Aisling
%A Richards,Derek
%+ e-Mental Health Group, School of Psychology, University of Dublin Trinity College, College Green, Dublin, D02 PN40, Ireland, 353 18961886, neilert@tcd.ie
%K internet-delivered interventions
%K children and young people
%K depression
%K anxiety
%K digital health
%D 2022
%7 12.5.2022
%9 Review
%J JMIR Pediatr Parent
%G English
%X Background: Mental health difficulties in children and adolescents are highly prevalent; however, only a minority receive adequate mental health care. Internet-delivered interventions offer a promising opportunity to increase access to mental health treatment. Research has demonstrated their effectiveness as a treatment for depression and anxiety in adults. This work provides an up-to-date examination of the available intervention options and their effectiveness for children and young people (CYP). Objective: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we aimed to determine the evidence available for the effectiveness of internet-delivered interventions for treating anxiety and depression in CYP. Methods: Systematic literature searches were conducted throughout November 2020 using PubMed, PsycINFO, and EBSCO academic search complete electronic databases to find outcome trials of internet-delivered interventions treating symptoms of anxiety and/or depression in CYP by being either directly delivered to the CYP or delivered via their parents. Studies were eligible for meta-analysis if they were randomized controlled trials. Risk of bias and publication biases were evaluated, and Hedges g between group effect sizes evaluating intervention effects after treatment were calculated. Meta-analyses used random-effects models as per protocol. Results: A total of 23 studies met the eligibility criteria for the systematic review, of which 16 were included in the meta-analyses, including 977 participants in internet-delivered treatment conditions and 1008 participants in control conditions across 21 comparisons. Random-effects models detected a significant small effect for anxiety symptoms (across 20 comparisons; Hedges g=−0.25, 95% CI −0.38 to −0.12; P<.001) and a small but not significant effect for depression (across 13 comparisons; Hedges g=−0.27, 95% CI −0.55 to 0.01; P=.06) in favor of internet-delivered interventions compared with control groups. Regarding secondary outcomes, there was a small effect of treatment across 9 comparisons for impaired functioning (Hedges g=0.52, 95% CI 0.24-0.80; P<.001), and 5 comparisons of quality of life showed no effect (Hedges g=−0.01, 95% CI −0.23 to 0.21; P=.94). Conclusions: The results show that the potential of internet-delivered interventions for young people with symptoms of anxiety or depression has not been tapped into to date. This review highlights an opportunity for the development of population-specific interventions and their research to expand our current knowledge and build an empirical base for digital interventions for CYP. Trial Registration: PROSPERO CRD42020220171; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=220171 
%M 35551071
%R 10.2196/33551
%U https://pediatrics.jmir.org/2022/2/e33551
%U https://doi.org/10.2196/33551
%U http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35551071