What Steps to Take? How to Approach Concerning Anxiety in Youth

Anxiety in youth is a concern, and stepped care provides appropriate services for differential levels of distress and increases the number of youth able to receive services. Youth, and families, with mild anxiety benefit from print and Internet resources. Youth whose anxiety persists can receive direct guidance (e.g., computer-assisted programs). A third step increases the intensity of services (e.g., therapy). Finally, for severely problematic anxiety, intensive programs may be needed. Throughout, it is important to monitor anxiety and related impairment as well as to take into account client and family characteristics. Research on interventions within each step has identified many to be efficacious, but studies are needed to examine the decision-making features as well as the effectiveness of a stepped care approach.