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Exposure Therapy for Anxiety Disorders in Schools: Getting Started

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Abstract

Exposure and response prevention is an evidence-based intervention recommended as a first-line treatment for childhood anxiety disorders. Despite over a century of research establishing its efficacy, many school- and college-aged youth fail to receive timely and effective treatment. This brief review will summarize the rationale and efficacy of exposure-based cognitive-behavioral therapy, highlight the challenges of treatment implementation, and provide resources for practitioners seeking to apply exposure therapy in practice.

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Notes

  1. Prior to the DSM-5, obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder were classified as anxiety disorders. These are now categorized separately.

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Zaboski, B.A. Exposure Therapy for Anxiety Disorders in Schools: Getting Started. Contemp School Psychol 26, 235–240 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40688-020-00301-0

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