{"id":354,"date":"2016-07-20T10:13:34","date_gmt":"2016-07-20T14:13:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/childcardresearch\/?page_id=354"},"modified":"2026-02-17T15:10:58","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T20:10:58","slug":"completed-studies","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/childcardresearch\/research-programs\/completed-studies\/","title":{"rendered":"Completed Studies"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Kids FACE FEARS Pragmatic Randomized Trial of Therapist-Led versus Guided Internet Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Pediatric Anxiety<\/span><\/b><\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Principal Investigators for this project were Donna Pincus,\u00a0PhD\u00a0and Jonathan Comer, PhD. Kids FACE FEARS\u00a0(Kids\u00a0<\/span>F<\/span>ormats of\u00a0<\/span>A<\/span>nxiety\u00a0<\/span>C<\/span>are\u00a0<\/span>E<\/span>ffectiveness\u00a0<\/span>Study\u00a0<\/span>F<\/span>or\u00a0<\/span>E<\/span>xtending the\u00a0<\/span>A<\/span>cceptability and\u00a0<\/span>R<\/span>each of\u00a0<\/span>S<\/span>ervices)\u00a0was a large, multi-site, multi-region trial funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute. The trial compared therapist-led CBT versus guided, internet-based CBT as treatments for anxiety in youth ages 7-18 years. English- and Spanish-speaking families were recruited from urban pediatric health care centers in four metropolitan regions across the United States\u00a0(<\/span>Comer et al., 2025<\/span><\/a>).\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Intensive Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety Disorders in Adolescents<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Principal Investigator of this project was Ovsanna Leyfer, Ph.D. For this study, Dr. Leyfer developed and piloted an intensive treatment for anxiety disorders and piloted it in a multiple baseline study. The results demonstrated reduction in the\u00a0severity of principal and secondary anxiety diagnoses and associated cognitive mechanisms of anxiety (e.g.cognitive fusion and experiential avoidance). A case study has illustrated\u00a0<\/span>the clinical\u00a0<\/span>benefit and utility of an intensive, anxiety disorder non-specific approach (Hudson et al., 2023<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Research on Expanding Adolescents\u2019 Access to Evidence-Based Treatment for Anxiety and Panic in Schools<\/span><\/b><\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Principal Investigator on this project was Donna Pincus, Ph.D. The overall aim of the grant was to increase youth\u2019s access to\u00a0state of the art\u00a0treatment for anxiety disorders. The\u00a0study investigated a novel way of bringing evidence-based treatment for panic and anxiety to youth in middle and high schools. The research team developed an interactive, web-based intervention to deliver\u00a0state of the art\u00a0cognitive-behavioral treatment to youth aged 11-17. Adolescents and their parents were provided with access to a web-based course that taught cognitive-behavioral skills for coping with panic and anxiety. Therapists from Boston University conducted video conferencing with youth after they completed each learning module of the program. The research team tested the feasibility and acceptability of this web-based treatment format and evaluated its potential for sustainability in schools.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

D-Cycloserine-Enhanced Intensive Treatment for Panic Disorder in Adolescent<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Principal Investigator on this project was Ovsanna Leyfer, Ph.D. \u00a0This study evaluated the effects of 3 single doses of medication d-cycloserine on the effectiveness of an 8-day intensive cognitive-behavioral therapy for panic disorder in adolescents ages 12-17. The treatment relied on exposure (regular and stepwise practice with sensations or events that a person finds frightening) to help treat teens with panic disorder. The participants were randomly assigned to receive either 3 doses of d-cycloserine in conjunction with therapy or 3 doses of placebo (sugar pill) in conjunction with therapy. \u00a0Both groups did very well in treatment, with 77% of the teens no longer meeting for the diagnosis of panic disorder at the end of the treatment. At the 3-month follow-up, 86% of the adolescents no longer had a diagnosis of panic disorder (Leyfer et al., 2019<\/a>;\u00a0<\/span>Nauphal et al., 2021<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

Internet-Delivered Parent Child Interaction Therapy for Preschool Disruptive Behavior Problems<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Principal Investigator on this project is Jonathan Comer, Ph.D., who is now an Associate Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at Florida International University. This study is now closed to enrollment and results will be due out in the winter of 2016-2017. Preliminary results suggest that Internet-delivered PCIT for 3-5 year olds with disruptive behavior problems is comparable to traditional clinic-based PCIT. Results also suggest that Internet-delivered treatment is feasible and acceptable to families in the Miami and greater Boston areas. Please e-mail Dr. Comer at jocomer@fiu.edu for more information about the results of this study.<\/p>\n

Internet-Delivered Exposure and Response Prevention for Early-Onset OCD in 4-8 Year Olds<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Principal Investigator on this project is Jonathan Comer, Ph.D., who is now an Associate Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at Florida International University. This study is now closed to enrollment and results will be due out in the winter of 2016-2017. Preliminary results suggest that Internet-delivered EX\/RP for 4-8 year olds with OCD is comparable to traditional clinic-based EX\/RP for early childhood OCD. Results also suggest that Internet-delivered treatment is feasible and acceptable to families in the Boston area. Please e-mail Dr. Comer at jocomer@fiu.edu for more information about the results of this study.<\/p>\n

Internet-Delivered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety in 7-14 Year Olds<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Principal Investigator on this project is Aubrey Carpenter, M.A., a doctoral student who completed this multi-site study at Boston University and Florida International University as her dissertation study. Her faculty mentors are Donna Pincus, Ph.D., and Jonathan Comer, Ph.D. This study is now closed to enrollment and is in the long-term follow-up phase; results will be due out in the winter of 2016-2017. Preliminary results suggest that Internet-delivered CBT for 7-14 year olds with separation anxiety, generalized anxiety, and\/or social anxiety is feasible, effective, and acceptable to families in the Miami and greater Boston areas.<\/p>\n

Example Dissertation Projects Completed by Child CARD Graduate Students:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n