TY  - JOUR
AU  - Lilja, Josefine Lotten
AU  - Rupcic Ljustina, Mirna
AU  - Nissling, Linnea
AU  - Larsson, Anna Caroline
AU  - Weineland, Sandra
PY  - 2021
DA  - 2021/11/1
TI  - Youths’ and Parents’ Experiences and Perceived Effects of Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety Disorders in Primary Care: Mixed Methods Study
JO  - JMIR Pediatr Parent
SP  - e26842
VL  - 4
IS  - 4
KW  - internet
KW  - CBT
KW  - cognitive behavioral therapy
KW  - adolescents
KW  - parents
KW  - anxiety
KW  - primary care
KW  - mixed methods
KW  - experiences
KW  - youths
KW  - digital health
AB  - Background: Anxiety is common among youths in primary care. Face-to-face treatment has been the first choice for clinicians, but during the COVID-19 pandemic, digital psychological interventions have substantially increased. Few studies have examined young people’s interest in internet treatment or the attitudes they and their parents have toward it. Objective: This study aims to investigate adolescents’ and parents’ attitudes toward and experiences of internet-based cognitive behavioral anxiety treatment in primary care and its presumptive effects. Methods: The study used mixed methods, analyzing qualitative data thematically and quantitative data with nonparametric analysis. Participants were 14 adolescents and 14 parents recruited in adolescent primary health care clinics. The adolescents and their parents filled out mental health questionnaires before and after treatment, and were interviewed during ongoing treatment. Results: The quantitative data indicated that the internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy program used in this study was successful in reducing symptoms (χ22=8.333; P=.02) and that adolescents’ motivation is essential to the treatment outcome (r=0.58; P=.03). The qualitative results show that youths highly value their independence and freedom to organize treatment work on their own terms. The parents expressed uncertainty about their role and how to support their child in treatment. It was important for parents to respect the youths’ need for autonomy while also engaging with them in the treatment work. Conclusions: Internet treatment in primary care is accepted by both youths and their parents, who need clarification about the difference between their role and the therapist’s role. Patient motivation should be considered before treatment, and therapists need to continue to develop the virtual alliance. Finally, primary care should be clearer in informing adolescents and their parents about the possibility of internet treatment. 
SN  - 2561-6722
UR  - https://pediatrics.jmir.org/2021/4/e26842
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2196/26842
UR  - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34723830
DO  - 10.2196/26842
ID  - info:doi/10.2196/26842
ER  -