A Single Session Parenting Intervention for Children on a Outpatient Therapy Waitlist

Launched by MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · Sep 12, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying a new approach to help parents support their children who are waiting for therapy to manage anxiety disorders. Many children with anxiety need Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), but long wait times—often 10 to 12 months—can make their symptoms worse. To address this, the trial will evaluate a brief, online program that teaches parents strategies to help reduce their own behaviors that may unintentionally support their child’s anxiety. The main goal is to see if this program can help parents change their approach, while a secondary aim is to find out if it also helps reduce the child's anxiety symptoms during the wait for therapy.

Parents of children aged 5 to 12 who are on a waitlist for outpatient CBT and have anxiety or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) may be eligible to participate. To join, parents should be English-speaking and over 18 years old. However, if their child has serious issues like suicidal thoughts or is already receiving CBT from another provider, they would not be eligible. Participants can expect to engage with this web-based program from home, which may provide valuable support for both them and their child while waiting for therapy.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• Parents will be eligible to participate if:
• • 1. Their child has anxiety and/or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) (either subclinical or clinical), as determined by an initial screening
• • 2. Their child is between the age of 5 and 12 years-old
• • 3. Parents are English-speaking
• • 4. Parents are over the age of 18 years old
• Exclusion Criteria:
• Parents will be excluded if:
• • 1. Their child shows symptoms of suicidal or homicidal ideation, psychosis, or primary severe mood or behavior disorder (i.e., if treatment for another disorder other than anxiety is indicate prior to treatment for anxiety)
• • 2. Their child is already receiving CBT (i.e., transfer cases from other CBT providers in the community).