Affecting 117 million youth, anxiety is the most common mental health problem affecting children and teens across the world, and the rate of diagnosis continues to rise. Anxiety disorders place youth at higher risk for depression, substance abuse, and suicide, as well as other chronic health issues. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a frequently-utilized, evidence-based “talk therapy” for children with anxiety disorders, but it typically requires 4-5 months of weekly treatment with low rates of effectiveness.
Description
SmartCAT is a mobile health platform designed to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of CBT for childhood anxiety disorders to lead to faster and more complete recovery. It combines a smartphone app for youth with a HIPAA-compliant clinician portal. Users practice CBT skills including coping, relaxation, and problem solving in their day-to-day-life using interactive games, multimedia activities, and a skills coach for real-time assistance. Unlike existing anxiety apps, the activities on SmartCAT are coordinated with clinical care. Using clinician portal, therapists or counselors can assign “challenges” for youth to tackle real-world fears, schedule time-based and GPS-based reminders, and gain insight into the user’s progress by reviewing app data. Results suggest that incorporating SmartCAT, treatment can be reduced from 16 to 8 sessions while boosting recovery rates by almost 40%. These features increase patient engagement, motivation, and learning, allowing therapists to operate more effectively, provide faster relief for youth and families, and reduce costs to patients.
Applications
· School-based mental health counseling
· Behavioral health care in pediatrics
· Community mental health and private practice
· Stand-alone program for clinical anxiety
Advantages
· Evidence-based strategies to complement CBT practice
· Gamified skill building is fun and engaging for young users
· Tailored for use by children and teens
· Integration with clinical care aids therapists in providing effective care
Invention Readiness
Fully developed and market-ready; user-centered design, usability, and feasibility studies completed; preliminary efficacy established in NIH-funded open trial (R34 MH102666)
IP Status
Copyright
