(PS8-D89) Investigating the Effect of Telehealth Delivered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Symptom Improvement During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented levels of youth mental illness. With widespread closures, clinics abruptly switched to telehealth treatment. As mental healthcare providers continue to rely on telehealth services, it is imperative to elucidate if such a modality is effective in treating youth with psychopathology. Here, we investigate the effectiveness of the Unified Protocols for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders in Children and Adolescents (UP-C/A) via telehealth in reducing internalizing symptoms and related concerns in a clinical sample of transdiagnostic youth. Participants were youth with emotion disorders aged 6-18 (M = 12.03, N = 80) who received the UP-C/A either in-person prior to the pandemic (N = 38) or via telehealth during the pandemic (N = 42). To compare the effectiveness the two treatment modalities, we matched participants in each group based on pre-treatment clinical severity (measured by the Clinical Global Impression Scale – Severity). First, to examine symptom improvement, we conducted paired samples t-tests to investigate if symptoms of parent and- and youth self-reported depression (Mood and Feelings Questionnaire), anxiety (Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorder) emotion regulation (youth self-reported Emotion Regulation Questionnaire for Children and Adolescents and parent-reported Emotion Regulation Questionnaire), and distress tolerance (Distress Tolerance Scale) decreased over the course of treatment. Second, we conducted linear regressions to examine the effect of treatment modality on change in the above variables while controlling for age, ethnicity, and pre-treatment severity. Third, we investigated if treatment modality significantly predicted parent and youth-satisfaction with treatment (Client Satisfaction Questionnaire). First, across both treatment modalities, parent- and self-reported symptoms of anxiety and depression significantly decreased over the course of the UP-C/A (ps < .001). Parent-reported, but not youth self-reported, distress tolerance significantly improved (p < .001 and p > .05, respectively). Neither parent- nor self-reported emotion regulation changed significantly over treatment (ps > .05). Second, we found that treatment modality did not significantly predict changes in parent or youth reported depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms, emotion regulation, or distress tolerance (ps > .05). Third, parent- and youth-reported satisfaction with treatment did not vary as a function of treatment modality (ps > .05). Results indicate that youth with emotional disorders demonstrated significant improvements in symptoms of depression and anxiety after completing a course of the UP-C/A regardless of treatment modality. Further, results indicate that client satisfaction does not vary based on treatment modality, suggesting the UP-C/A is equally acceptable both in-person and via telehealth. Overall, these findings speak to the effectiveness of the UP-C/A via telehealth in treating emotional disorders. Such results may inform providers’ and clients’ decision to pursue telehealth treatment of youth emotional disorders both in and out of the face of public health emergencies.