What Did the Study or Report Find?

Investigators followed 465 Finnish children ages 10 to 13 with anxiety symptoms for two years after starting treatment. Families were split so that 234 children received 10 weeks of internet-based CBT paired with weekly telephone coaching, while 231 received online psychoeducation about anxiety as a comparison. Using standardized parent- and child-report anxiety scales, both groups showed reduced symptoms that were still evident at the 24-month mark, suggesting the gains from the coached program were not simply short-lived.

Why Does This Matter?

Access to in-person child mental health care is limited in many areas, with long waitlists for therapists who specialize in childhood anxiety. If a remotely delivered, coach-supported program can produce anxiety reductions that last for two years, it could offer a scalable option for families who cannot easily access in-person therapy.

Symptoms or Warning Signs That May Be Relevant

Childhood anxiety can show up as excessive worry, reluctance to attend school, physical complaints like stomachaches or headaches without a clear medical cause, difficulty separating from caregivers, or avoidance of everyday activities.

When Should Someone Seek Professional Help?

Routine Appointment: Mild, occasional worry that doesn't significantly interfere with daily life can be discussed at a routine pediatric visit. Contact a Healthcare Professional Soon: Persistent worry, school avoidance, or physical symptoms tied to anxiety that affect daily functioning warrant a dedicated evaluation.

How to Explain This to Your Doctor

It helps to describe when the anxiety symptoms started, specific triggers or situations that seem to make it worse, how it affects school and family life, how often and how intensely it occurs, and anything that has helped so far.

Example of What a Patient Could Say

“My 11-year-old has been refusing to go to school for the past two months, saying her stomach hurts every morning. A doctor has ruled out a physical cause, and I think it may be related to anxiety.”

Which Healthcare Professional May Help?

A pediatrician is a reasonable first step and can refer to a child psychologist or child psychiatrist if a structured therapy program, such as CBT, seems appropriate.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

• Could my child's physical symptoms be related to anxiety?
• Are there internet-based or in-person CBT programs available for children my child's age?
• How long does treatment typically take to show benefit?
• What can we do at home to support treatment?

What This Research Does NOT Prove

This study compared two active interventions rather than treatment versus no treatment at all, and both groups improved over time, which makes it harder to isolate the specific added benefit of the coached iCBT program. Findings in a Finnish population using specific tools may not directly generalize to all children or healthcare systems. Long-term follow-up strengthens confidence in durability, but individual results can vary.

RatelHealth Bottom Line

Internet-based, coach-supported CBT appears to offer anxiety symptom improvements in children that can be sustained for at least two years, offering a potentially more accessible option alongside in-person therapy. Parents considering treatment options for a child's anxiety should discuss what's available and appropriate with a pediatrician or child mental health professional.

Related Topics

Related reading: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)