Hair Cortisol and Symptoms in Children With Psychopathology During CBT

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Child Behavior Problem
• Interventions: Behavioral: The Friends Program

• Registration Number: NCT06274424
• Lead Sponsor: Helsinki University Central Hospital

Brief Summary

This study aims to examine the relationship between hair cortisol concentration and behavior and sleep disturbance symptoms in children with psychiatric disorders. It also investigates potential changes in hair cortisol and symptomatology after group-based cognitive behavior therapy. Furthermore, the study explores the effects of any alterations in hair cortisol concentration levels on potential behavior and sleep disturbance symptom change over the course of the study.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2016-07-01
• Primary Completion: 2019-10-01
• Study Completion: 2019-10-01
• Status Verified: 2024-02
• Study First Submitted: 2024-02-16
• Study First Submitted QC: 2024-02-16
• Study First Posted: 2024-02-23
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-02-27
• Last Update Posted: 2024-02-29

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 100

Inclusion Criteria

• symptoms of anxiety or depression
• deficiencies in emotional and behavioral skills impairing functioning
• sufficient social and cognitive skills to participate in group work.

Exclusion Criteria

• excessive physical aggression
• excessive physical restlessness
• severity of psychiatric symptoms requiring individual psychotherapy (e.g., acute suicidality).

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Group Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Intervention	The Friends Program	The Friends Program

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Hair Cortisol Concentration	Before and after the group cognitive behavioral intervention (duration from pre-GCBT to post-GCBT circa 4.7 months), and at a 7-month follow-up	Level of hair cortisol concentration measured from hair samples
Parent-rated sleep disturbance symptoms	Before and after the group cognitive behavioral intervention (duration from pre-GCBT to post-GCBT circa 4.7 months), and at a 7-month follow-up	Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC). A cutoff score of 39 and above has been suggested to identify children with sleep disturbance.
Parent- and teacher rated internalizing and externalizing symptoms	Before and after the group cognitive behavioral intervention (duration from pre-GCBT to post-GCBT circa 4.7 months), and at a 7-month follow-up	The Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment (ASEBA). Scores below 60 reflect the normal range, scores from 60 to 63 the borderline range, and scores above 63 the clinical range
Child-rated internalizing symptoms	Before and after the group cognitive behavioral intervention (duration from pre-GCBT to post-GCBT circa 4.7 months), and at a 7-month follow-up	The Spence Children´s Anxiety Scale. A total score of 60 or higher is indicative of elevated anxiety.