Name
Poster 61 - Brief Interventions for Internalizing and Externalizing Problems within Pediatric Primary Care: A Systematic Review
Date & Time
Friday, October 17, 2025, 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
Location Name
Ballroom Lobby - 400 Level
Description

The prevalence of mental health disorders among youth is increasing at an alarming rate. Globally, one in seven youth experience a mental disorder, with depression, anxiety, and externalizing disorders among the most prevalent. The accessibility of specialized mental health care services is limited, placing primary care settings in a unique position to address the rising mental health concerns of youth. Brief interventions (BIs) are defined as time-limited, patient-centered strategies delivered in eight or fewer sessions. Given the brevity, problem-specific, and cost-effectiveness of BIs, these interventions are an effective way to enhance the management of mental health conditions among youth in primary care. A systematic review is currently underway and aims to identify, describe ,and evaluate brief interventions delivered in primary care settings to address the most prevalent mental health concerns among youth (i.e., internalizing and externalizing problems). Peer-reviewed journal articles have been searched within PsycINFO, PubMed, CINAHL using the PRISMA framework. Data related to the characteristics of the sample, intervention description, and outcomes of the interventions will be extracted. Implications regarding integrated primary care practice will be discussed.

Speakers
Brianne Polant BA, Clinical Psychology Doctoral Student, Fairleigh Dickinson University,
Co-Authors
Caroline Burke, Clinical Doctoral Student Teaneck, NJ Fairleigh Dickinson University and Rachel Petts, Associate Professor, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, NJ
Tags
Pediatrics
Session Type
Poster
Slideshow link
View Slideshow
Objective 1
Describe the current state of the literature regarding brief interventions for internalizing and externalizing disorders delivered in the pediatric primary care setting.
Objective 2
Identify research gaps to promote future research and implementation
Objective 3
Discuss how brief interventions for internalizing and externalizing disorders can be implemented in the primary care settings
Content Reference 1

Schwartz, K. T. G., Kado-Walton, M., Dickerson, J. F., Rozenman, M., Brent, D. A., Porta, G., Lynch, F. L., Gonzalez, A., & Weersing, V. R. (2023). Brief Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety and Depression in Pediatric Primary Care: Breadth of Intervention Impact. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 62(2), 230–243. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2022.08.007

Content Reference 2

Ginsburg, G. S., Drake, K., Winegrad, H., Fothergill, K., & Wissow, L. (2016). An Open Trial of the Anxiety Action Plan (AxAP): A Brief Pediatrician-Delivered Intervention for Anxious Youth. Child & youth care forum, 45(1), 19–32. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10566-015-9320-3

Content Reference 3

Brent, D. A., Porta, G., Rozenman, M. S., Gonzalez, A., Schwartz, K. T. G., Lynch, F. L., Dickerson, J. F., Iyengar, S., & Weersing, V. R. (2020). Brief Behavioral Therapy for Pediatric Anxiety and Depression in Primary Care: A Follow-up. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 59(7), 856–867. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2019.06.009