Current State of the Science of Brief, Concentrated and Intensive Treatments

Recent innovations in psychological treatment and research highlights a shift towards brief, intensive, and concentrated (BIC) treatments. The current state of evidence demonstrates promise of BIC interventions for youth with anxiety disorders. BIC treatments such as One Session Treatment (OST) for Specific Phobias and Exposure and Response Prevention (CBT-ERP) for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) have shown to significantly reduce phobic anxiety and obsessive-compulsive symptoms respectively. Additionally, BIC treatments’ efficacy and benefits extends to other anxiety disorders including Separation Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Selective, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. BIC interventions offer numerous advantages including, faster clinical responses, access to specialized treatment, reduction in time and cost burdens, and greater flexibility and choice for clinicians and families. Further exploration of BIC treatments’ potential in optimizing client outcomes is required. The future of treating youth and young adults with anxiety and related disorders appears promising with the continued development and utilization of BIC treatments.