Connecticut Child STEPs

President and Fellows of Harvard College

Status: Completed

Conditions: Behavior Problems; Trauma; Depression; Anxiety

Treatments: Other: Monitoring and Feedback System; Behavioral: Modular Approach to Therapy for Children with Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, and Conduct Problems

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03153904

13-1904

Details and patient eligibility

About

Connecticut Child STEPS is a randomized controlled trail investigating the effectiveness of MATCH-ADTC in treating anxiety, depression, trauma, and/or behavioral problems in children seeking services at four Department of Children and Families (DCF) funded clinics in the state of Connecticut. The study will evaluate child outcomes following two forms of therapist training in the MATCH model.

Full description

This randomized controlled trial (RCT) will investigate the effectiveness of a modular, transdiagnostic treatment protocol for youth with anxiety, depression, trauma, and/or behavioral problems (MATCH-ADTC) in four DCF funded clinics in the state of Connecticut. MATCH synthesizes common elements found across dozens of evidence-based treatments into one model that is flexible and responsive to the complex needs of children and families. The RCT will evaluate child outcomes following two forms of therapist training in the MATCH model: (1) the 6-day MATCH training only; (2) the 6-day MATCH training plus weekly ongoing case consultation with a MATCH consultant. Participating children are between the ages of 7 and 15.

Enrollment: 210 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 7 to 15 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. 7 to 15 year old child and their caregivers
2. seeking services at community mental health clinics
3. primary problem or disorder related to anxiety, traumatic stress, depression, or conduct problems, or any combination of the four problems

Exclusion criteria

1. child is outside of 7-15 age range

2. child does not have elevations in the areas of anxiety, depression, conduct, or posttraumatic stress

3. child is experiencing other primary clinical problems outside of MATCH focus such as:

   • ADHD identified as primary reason for seeking treatment
   • Schizophrenic spectrum disorder including Major Depressive Disorder with psychotic features
   • Autism spectrum disorder including Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Asperger's Disorder, Child Disintegrative Disorder, Rett's Disorder
   • Eating disorder including Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa
   • Mental Retardation

4. having been hospitalized for suicidal thoughts or behaviors within the past year

5. if the problem area of focus is beyond the scope of outpatient treatment and MATCH (e.g., severe aggression, psychosis, severe current suicidal ideation)

6. if child does not have a primary caregiver that can be involved in treatment and complete research assessments

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

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210 participants in 2 patient groups

MATCH Training plus MATCH Consultation

Experimental group

Description:

Therapists at local, community clinics attend a 6-day training on the Modular Approach to Therapy for Children with Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, and Conduct Problems (MATCH; Chorpita \& Weisz, 2009). After the training, therapists participate in weekly consultation meetings that are led by a MATCH Consultant from the study team. MATCH Consultants review sessions and the clinical monitoring and feedback system, provide recommendations for upcoming sessions, and review MATCH modules via role-plays and models.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Modular Approach to Therapy for Children with Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, and Conduct Problems

Other: Monitoring and Feedback System

MATCH Training only

Active Comparator group

Description:

Therapists at local, community clinics attend a 6-day training on the Modular Approach to Therapy for Children with Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, and Conduct Problems (MATCH; Chorpita \& Weisz, 2009). After the training, therapists use MATCH as they think best and receive supervision from supervisors at the clinic.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Modular Approach to Therapy for Children with Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, and Conduct Problems

Other: Monitoring and Feedback System