Brief Therapy for Anxiety and Depression in the Pediatric Primary Care Setting: Implications and Next Steps

Primary care is often the first point of contact for children and adolescents with mental health problems. Few of these youths reach specialty mental health care,¹ making it critical to have treatment options available in primary care. Anxiety and depression are among the most common behavioral health disorders in the pediatric age group, and they are often comorbid with medical conditions, thereby influencing both psychological and physical outcomes. Integration of behavioral health has been recognized as a key component of the Patient-Centered Medical Home. However, the evidence base for effective models of integration remains limited.²