Can more intensive therapy replace anxiety meds for kids?
NCT ID NCT04598230
First seen Jul 01, 2026 · Last updated Jul 02, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tests whether a longer, family-involved form of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can work as well as CBT combined with an antidepressant (SSRI) for children and teens with anxiety disorders. Participants aged 7 to 17 with separation, generalized, or social anxiety will receive either CBT alone for 6 months or CBT plus one of three SSRIs. The goal is to see if the enhanced CBT alone can match the combination's success in reducing anxiety and improving daily functioning.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs: fluoxetine, sertraline, or escitalopram)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could show that a longer, more family-involved CBT alone is as effective as CBT plus medication, offering a drug-free option for anxious youth.
- What could go wrong
- This is a Phase 3 trial, but past studies found CBT alone less effective than combination therapy. The enhanced CBT may still fall short, and side effects from SSRIs remain a concern.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Lurie Children's Hospital and Affiliated Pediatric Practices
Chicago, Illinois, 60611, United States
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UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior
Los Angeles, California, 45219, United States
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University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio, 45219, United States
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