Selective Prevention of Anxiety Disorders in Children: A Parent Training Intervention for Anxious Parents

Karolinska Institute

Status: Completed

Conditions: Anxiety Disorders

Treatments: Behavioral: Internet delivered parent training for anxious parents; Behavioral: Group parent training for anxious parents

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02386410

AGJA-02

Details and patient eligibility

About

Anxiety is the most frequent psychiatric problem in children. Untreated anxiety often has a chronic course, or may be a recurring condition. Anxiety in children predicts a variety of psychiatric disorders later in life, and involves problems regarding school performance and social relations. The literature provides a number of factors, which are suggested to increase the risk of developing an anxiety disorder. In particular, it has been shown that children of parents with anxiety disorders are at much greater risk of developing an anxiety disorder. Several studies have found a correlation between anxiety in the child, and parent behavior characterized by criticism, control and overprotectiveness. The present study aim to preliminary evaluate whether a eight week parent training intervention can reduce the incidence of anxiety disorders in children and to evaluate the feasibility of the parent training. Three central factors has been the basis in developing the parent training, all of which are considered to be involved in the development and maintenance of anxiety disorders in children (1) criticism and rejection, (2) control and overprotectiveness, and (3) parental modeling and reinforcement of anxiety. The goal of the parent training is therefore (1) to increase warmth and acceptance, (2) to increase autonomy for the child, and (3) modeling and reinforcement of brave behavior. The investigators intend to include 60 anxious parents in the study, who will be randomly allocated to either group parent training, Internet delivered parent training, or wait-list condition. The inclusion criteria are as follows: The parent states that he/she experiences anxiety or worry, the parents' child is 6-12 years old, and do not fulfill criteria for an anxiety disorder or major depressive disorder, the parent possesses everyday access to the Internet, and there is no presence of very aggravated family situations, such as parent substance abuse or severe depression, or domestic violence.

Enrollment: 40 patients

Sex: All

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• The parent states that he/she experiences anxiety or worry,
• The parents' child is 6-12 years old, and do not fulfill criteria for an anxiety disorder or major depressive disorder
• The parent possesses everyday access to the Internet

Exclusion criteria

• Presence of very aggravated family situations, such as parent substance abuse or severe depression, or domestic violence.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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40 participants in 3 patient groups

Group parent training

Experimental group

Description:

The intervention Group parent training for anxious parents is delivered in groups of about five, in 90 minutes per session, for eight consecutive weeks. The parent training is delivered by a licensed psychologist.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Group parent training for anxious parents

Internet delivered parent training

Experimental group

Description:

In the internet delivered parent training for anxious parents, parents are asked to work with one chapter each week, for eight consecutive weeks. Each chapter mirrors a session in the group format. Parents are able to e-mail a licensed psychologist during the intervention.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Internet delivered parent training for anxious parents

Wait-list

No Intervention group

Description:

Parents in the wait-list condition will receive the intervention after 12-month follow-up.