Selective Prevention of Anxiety Disorders in Children: A Parent Training Intervention for Anxious Parents

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Anxiety Disorders
• Interventions: Behavioral: Group parent training for anxious parents; Behavioral: Internet delivered parent training for anxious parents

• Registration Number: NCT02386410
• Lead Sponsor: Karolinska Institutet

Brief Summary

Anxiety is the most frequent psychiatric problem in children. Untreated anxiety often has a chronic course, or may be a recurring condition. Anxiety in children predicts a variety of psychiatric disorders later in life, and involves problems regarding school performance and social relations. The literature provides a number of factors, which are suggested to increase the risk of developing an anxiety disorder. In particular, it has been shown that children of parents with anxiety disorders are at much greater risk of developing an anxiety disorder. Several studies have found a correlation between anxiety in the child, and parent behavior characterized by criticism, control and overprotectiveness. The present study aim to preliminary evaluate whether a eight week parent training intervention can reduce the incidence of anxiety disorders in children and to evaluate the feasibility of the parent training. Three central factors has been the basis in developing the parent training, all of which are considered to be involved in the development and maintenance of anxiety disorders in children (1) criticism and rejection, (2) control and overprotectiveness, and (3) parental modeling and reinforcement of anxiety. The goal of the parent training is therefore (1) to increase warmth and acceptance, (2) to increase autonomy for the child, and (3) modeling and reinforcement of brave behavior. The investigators intend to include 60 anxious parents in the study, who will be randomly allocated to either group parent training, Internet delivered parent training, or wait-list condition. The inclusion criteria are as follows: The parent states that he/she experiences anxiety or worry, the parents' child is 6-12 years old, and do not fulfill criteria for an anxiety disorder or major depressive disorder, the parent possesses everyday access to the Internet, and there is no presence of very aggravated family situations, such as parent substance abuse or severe depression, or domestic violence.

Detailed Description

Not available

Basic Information
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Recruitment & Eligibility
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Study & Design
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Trial Locations

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2015-03-05
• Study First Submitted QC: 2015-03-05
• Study First Posted: 2015-03-11
• Study Start: 2015-08
• Primary Completion: 2016-12
• Study Completion: 2017-01
• Status Verified: 2017-11
• Last Update Submitted: 2017-11-09
• Last Update Posted: 2017-11-13

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 40

Inclusion Criteria

• The parent states that he/she experiences anxiety or worry,
• The parents' child is 6-12 years old, and do not fulfill criteria for an anxiety disorder or major depressive disorder
• The parent possesses everyday access to the Internet

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Exclusion Criteria

• Presence of very aggravated family situations, such as parent substance abuse or severe depression, or domestic violence.

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Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Group parent training	Group parent training for anxious parents	The intervention Group parent training for anxious parents is delivered in groups of about five, in 90 minutes per session, for eight consecutive weeks. The parent training is delivered by a licensed psychologist.
Internet delivered parent training	Internet delivered parent training for anxious parents	In the internet delivered parent training for anxious parents, parents are asked to work with one chapter each week, for eight consecutive weeks. Each chapter mirrors a session in the group format. Parents are able to e-mail a licensed psychologist during the intervention.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule - Child and Parent Version	At 12-month follow up

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Children Depression Inventory	Change from baseline in depressive symptom scores at 12 months follow-up	Rated by the child
Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire	Change from baseline in dfficulties scores at 12 months follow-up	Rated by parents
The Rearing Behavior Questionnaire	Change from baseline in rearing behavior scores at 12 months follow-up	Rated by parents
State-Trait Anxiety Inventory	Change from baseline in anxiety symptom scores at 12 months follow-up	Rated by parents
Quality of Life Inventory	Change from baseline in quality of life scores at 12 months follow-up	Rated by parents
The Spence Children's Anxiety Scale	Change from baseline in anxiety symptom scores at 12 months follow-up	Rated by the child and the parent independently
Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale	Change from baseline in depressive symptom scores at 12 months follow-up	Rated by parents

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Karolinska Institutet; 🇸🇪 Solna, Sweden