Effectiveness of Traditional and Computerized Versions of Super Skills for Life in Children

Miguel Hernández University of Elche

Status: Active, not recruiting

Conditions: Emotional Disorder; Depressive Symptoms; Anxiety Disorders and Symptoms; Mood Disorders; Anxiety Disorders; Depressive Disorder

Treatments: Behavioral: Super Skills for Life: computerized version; Behavioral: Super Skills for Life: traditional version

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05574491

220118115011

Details and patient eligibility

About

Super Skills for Life (SSL) is a transdiagnostic cognitive-behavioral protocol developed for children aged 6 to 12 with anxiety and comorbid problems (e.g., depression, low self-esteem, and lack of social skills).

SSL consists of eight sessions targeting common risk factors for internalizing disorders such as cognitive distortions, avoidance, emotional management, low self-esteem, social skills deficits and coping strategies.

The aim of the study is to investigate the comparative effectiveness of SSL in its traditional and computerized versions on internalizing symptoms in Spanish children between 8 and 12 years of age.

Full description

Children will be selected to receive the SSL program based on results on psychometrically robust measurements and inclusion/exclusion criteria. Selected children will be randomly assigned to the conditions of the two intervention groups (traditional and computerized versions of SSL).

Parents and children from the two groups will complete the same measures at baseline and post-treatment. They will also complete these measures at 6 months follow-up, and 12 months follow-up.

Researchers will compare the results of pre-test to post-test assessments in children participating in the traditional and multimedia versions of SSL on depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, interference of anxiety on child's life, self-esteem, social skills, social worries, and cognitive emotional regulation.

The investigators will also assess these variables in the intervention group at 6 months and 12 months follow-up.

Enrollment: 105 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 8 to 12 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Children aged 8 - 12 years old.
• Presence of emotional symptoms, which will be assessed using the SCAS and the MFQ, parent versions. The cut-off point for inclusion in the study is a score equal to or above 25 on the SCAS and/or equal to or above 20 on the MFQ.
• Speaking, reading, writing and understanding Spanish.

Exclusion criteria

• Intellectual disability, behavioral symptoms, or autism spectrum symptoms whose severity precluded continued treatment.
• Being receiving current psychological or pharmacological treatment for anxiety and/or depression.
• Not accepting or revoking informed consent to participate in the study.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

---

105 participants in 2 patient groups

Super Skills for Life intervention group: traditional version

Experimental group

Description:

The Super Skills for Life program will be administered following the manual of the intervention by a trained therapist, as described in the section of intervention/treatment.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Super Skills for Life: traditional version

Super Skills for Life intervention group: computerized version

Experimental group

Description:

The Super Skills for Life program will be administered in-person as well by a trained therapist, as described in the section of intervention treatment. The therapist will use the multimedia presentation of the program's contents as a tool for the better development of the sessions. The digital version of the program consists of an animation whose characters narrate examples that help the children better understand the contents. The therapist will have a password assigned to each child, and it will be the therapist who will guide the sessions and select the contents of the digital presentation that correspond to each session. The web address to access the programme is https://www.superskillsonline.com/.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Super Skills for Life: computerized version