iCATS: Identifying Child Anxiety Through Schools: Identification to Intervention

Anxiety disorders are common, emerge early in life and carry substantial long‑term personal and economic costs, yet many affected children are not identified or treated due to persistent gaps in early detection and access to timely support.

This research programme seeks to address these limitations by developing and rigorously evaluating a scalable, school‑based pathway that integrates universal screening, feedback and a digitally enhanced brief parent‑led intervention with therapist support (OSI – online support and intervention). The programme also aims to refine methods to accurately identify anxiety problems, maximise engagement and determine which children benefit most and through what mechanisms.

A central focus is to establish not only whether this approach improves child anxiety problems and longer‑term outcomes compared with usual school provision, but also whether it delivers meaningful economic benefits, with particular emphasis on demonstrating its cost‑effectiveness and potential for wider implementation.

Funder: NIHR PGfAR

See project website for more.