Changes in Frontoamygdala Circuitry Associated With a Parent-Focused Intervention for Pediatric Anxiety Disorders

Although cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be effective for treating pediatric anxiety disorders, up to 50% of clinically anxious youth do not respond sufficiently to CBT. Parents play a central role in guiding children's learning about threat and safety and in regulating their anxiety, highlighting the possibility of a parent-focused treatment to enhance clinical efficacy. However, the neural mechanisms that support anxiety reduction in parent-focused treatment remain unknown. Comparing neural correlates of symptom change in parent-focused treatment versus CBT may help to guide treatment optimization and targeted treatment recommendations.