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TAFF-Psychological Treatment of Separation Anxiety Disorder

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Separation Anxiety Disorder
Interventions
Behavioral: family based cognitive behavior therapy
Registration Number
NCT00255112
Lead Sponsor
University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine whether a specific family based cognitive behavioral treatment program is effective in the treatment of children with separation anxiety disorder.

Detailed Description

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental disorders both in adulthood and childhood. Recent research indicates that anxiety disorders in childhood and in particular Separation Anxiety Disorder (SAD) increase the risk of mental disorders in adulthood. Despite these results research on SAD is still limited compared to the vast research activity on adult anxiety disorders. The proposed research program will close a gap of current international research: It will test the efficacy of a family based cognitive behavioral treatment program specific for SAD.

The research program consists of two parts. One study is aimed at children with SAD aged 5 to 7. 40 children are randomly allocated immediately to SAD-specific family-based treatment or to a wait list. For the second study 60 children with SAD (8 to 13 years old) are randomly allocated to either SAD-specific family-based treatment ("SAD-CBT") or a well established global CBT program for childhood anxiety disorders ("global CBT").

In both studies treatment success is tested at the end of treatment as well as 4 weeks and 1, 2 and 3 years after treatment.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
64
Inclusion Criteria
  • Primary diagnosis of SAD
  • Age 5 to 13 years
  • Knowledge of German language
  • Consent to randomization and psychological testing
Exclusion Criteria
  • Comorbid Pervasive Developmental Disorders
  • Active psychotropic drugs

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
2family based cognitive behavior therapyThe present study evaluates the efficacy of a family-based CBT treatment specifically tailored to children with SAD, developed at the University of Basel in comparison to a global CBT treatment. The study consists of 60 participants (between 8 and 13 years old), randomly assigned to one of the two treatments.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Global Success Rating (GSR)December 2009
DSM-IV criteria for Separation Anxiety DisorderDecember 2009
Separation Anxiety Inventory for Children (SAI)December 2009
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale (RCMAS)December 2009
Inventory for the Assessment of Quality of Life in Children and Adolescents (IQL)December 2009
Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS)December 2009

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Institute of Psychology

🇨🇭

Basel, Basel-Stadt, Switzerland

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