Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is characterized by significant distress and avoidance surrounding social and performance situations with marked interpersonal and academic impairment. This review paper highlights cultural considerations relevant to the conceptualization, identification and treatment of SAD in Black youth. Research evaluating the…

Objective: The study examined the effects of therapeutic alliance (TA; relational bond, task collaboration) on externalizing behavior outcomes, how TA can operate differently when children are seen in individual versus group sessions, and how therapist-child disagreement in perceptions of TA affects outcomes. Method: 360 children (ages 9.2 to…

This study examined the feasibility and potential efficacy of the Resilience Education Program (REP), a Tier 2 school-based internalizing intervention. REP represents a hybrid intervention approach, incorporating both small-group cognitive-behavioral instruction and a Check-In/Check-Out reinforcement-based mentorship program. A randomized…

Objective: College students with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at increased risk for numerous educational and psychosocial difficulties. This study reports findings from a large, multisite randomized controlled trial examining the efficacy of a treatment for this population, known as ACCESS -- Accessing Campus Connections and…

This study reports on the results of a pilot study designed to evaluate the Resilience Education Program: a brief Tier 2 intervention that includes small-group cognitive-behavioral instruction, paired with a modified Check In/Check Out procedure. Three elementary school students demonstrating early indicators of internalizing behavior concerns…

This study examined the association between two implementation factors, nurse-reported intervention adherence and self efficacy, and children's outcomes in school nurse-delivered anxiety interventions. Data were collected in a pilot randomized controlled effectiveness trial with 54 children and 21 school nurses. Nurses implemented either a…

Dissemination and use of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), the primary evidence-based psychosocial treatment for pediatric anxiety disorders, in school settings has been slow, occurring primarily in the context of randomized controlled trials (RCT). No data are available on the sustained use of CBT by school clinicians after research support…

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) remains the only evidenced-based psychosocial treatment for pediatric anxiety. Adoption of CBT in community settings has been slow, and data on CBT use in schools specifically are limited. This study examined: (1) school-based clinicians' perceptions of their treatment approach for pediatric anxiety disorders,…

Objective: The current study reports functional outcomes from a multi-site randomized trial of a cognitive-behavioral treatment program for college students diagnosed with ADHD. Methods: A sample of emerging adults (N = 250; ages 18 to 30) currently attending college were comprehensively evaluated and diagnosed with ADHD (M age = 19.7; 66% female,…

This study examines differential effects of the Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS) program on behavioral and academic outcomes of middle school students. Researchers administered screenings to grade 6 students to assess traumatic stress and then randomized those with elevated levels to the CBITS treatment (n = 150; 47%…

The goal of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and impact of brief school-nurse-administered interventions for reducing anxiety. Thirty school nurses in Connecticut and Maryland were randomly assigned to deliver the Child Anxiety Learning Modules (CALM; n= 14) or CALM--Relaxation only (CALM-R; n= 16). Students (N= 54) were ages 5-12 (M age…

Social-cognitive and emotional factors as well as behavior problems contribute to the social difficulties experienced by many students with or at high risk for emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD). The way that teachers and peers treat and respond to these students can either mitigate or exacerbate their challenges in establishing and…

Background: Individual-level implementation determinants, such as clinician attitudes, commonly influence the successful adoption of evidence-based practices, but few explicit strategies have been tested with regard to their ability to impact these key mechanisms of change. This paper reports on an initial test of a blended, theoretically-informed…

This chapter reviews youth mental health interventions that promote behavioral, emotional, and cognitive engagement among school-aged youth within a three-tier framework. We first summarize empirical relationships between positive indicators of student engagement (e.g., subjective well-being; SWB) and negative indicators (e.g., internalizing and…

Anxiety disorders are common in children and severely impair their functioning. Because a hallmark symptom of anxiety is somatic complaints, anxious youth often seek help from their school nurse. Thus, school nurses are in an ideal position to identify anxious children and intervene early. This study assessed the feasibility of a brief…