Barriers to Implementing Evidence-Based Treatments for Anxiety Disorders in Community Settings

This chapter focuses on the multilevel barriers faced by community organizations when implementing evidence-based treatments (EBTs) for anxiety disorders in community settings. We start the chapter by discussing the science-practice gap that exists in the treatment of mental health and briefly summarize implementation science as an emerging field to systematically address this gap. The multilevel nature of the challenges (e.g., organizational, provider, treatment, and patient level) faced when implementing EBTs for anxiety disorders is highlighted. Several strategies that have been shown to effectively address these barriers to facilitate the uptake and long-term sustainability of EBTs in community settings are proposed and discussed.