Cognitive-Behavioral Interventions for Pediatric Anxiety: The Role of the Primary Care Medical Team in Assessment, Treatment, and Collaboration.

The article focuses on the role of pediatric primary care providers (PCPs) in assessing and treating pediatric anxiety disorders, emphasizing cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) as the gold standard intervention. It highlights the importance of universal anxiety screening in children aged 8 to 18, as recommended by the United States Preventive Services Task Force, and discusses validated screening tools suitable for primary care settings. Various models of delivering CBT within primary care are reviewed, including brief interventions by pediatricians, nurse practitioners, and integrated behavioral health providers embedded in primary care teams, which can improve access and treatment outcomes. The article also outlines a stepped care approach, where mild cases may be managed with parent-guided resources or brief CBT, while more severe or complex cases require referral to specialty mental health services. Integrated care models are presented as a strategy to overcome barriers such as limited mental health training and referral follow-through, aiming to enhance early identification and effective management of pediatric anxiety.