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Review
. 2025 Jul;27(7):441-449.
doi: 10.1007/s11920-025-01614-8. Epub 2025 May 9.

Involving Parents in the Management and Treatment of Youth Anxiety

Erika S Trent  1 , Samantha X L Tan  2 , Jessica Szu-Chi Cheng  2 , Eric A Storch  2
Affiliations
Review

Involving Parents in the Management and Treatment of Youth Anxiety

Erika S Trent et al. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2025 Jul.

Abstract

Purpose of review: Childhood anxiety disorders are impairing and chronic unless addressed early. While cognitive behavioral therapy with exposures has a strong evidence base, many youth continue to experience symptoms posttreatment. Enlisting parents may help improve the management and treatment of childhood anxiety.

Recent findings: Parental factors that influence childhood anxiety include family accommodation, parental emotion socialization, parental overcontrol, and parental anxiety. The merits of involving parents in childhood anxiety treatment have been debated. However, when specific, empirically- and theoretically-informed mechanisms are targeted, parental involvement in treatment appears efficacious and holds promise to increase access to care. Clinicians should consider the child's presentation, treatment barriers, and family dynamics to guide decision-making. Researchers and clinicians should also be aware of stressors that parents themselves face, considering ways to help children via supporting parents with their own mental health concerns.

Keywords: Anxiety; Child and adolescent; Cognitive behavioral therapy; Family accommodation; Parent training; Parenting.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Human and Animal Rights: This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors. Informed Consent: Since no participant data was collected for this review article, no informed consent was necessary. Competing Interests: Dr. Eric A. Storch reports receiving research funding to his institution from the Baylor College of Medicine Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center (P50HD103555) from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver NICHD, Ream Foundation, International OCD Foundation, and NIH. He is a consultant for Brainsway and Biohaven Pharmaceuticals. He owns stock less than $5000 in NView. He receives book royalties from Elsevier, Wiley, Oxford, American Psychological Association, Guildford, Springer, and Jessica Kingsley. Dr. Erika S. Trent reports receiving research funding to her institution from the Texas Child Mental Health Care Consortium (TCMHCC). The contents of this publication do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the NIH, Ream Foundation, IOCDF, or TCMHCC. The mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations does not imply endorsement by the US Government. The remaining authors have no relevant financial or non-financial competing interests to disclose.

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