Web-Based CBT Protocol for Treatment of Selective Mutism

National Healthcare Group, Singapore

Status: Completed

Conditions: Selective Mutism

Treatments: Behavioral: Meeky Mouse program; Other: Computer Games

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02009839

NHG-SIG/05016

Details and patient eligibility

About

The main aim of this study is to examine the effectiveness of a web-based CBT protocol (entitled Meeky Mouse) in the treatment of children with Selective Mutism in Singapore. The researchers hypothesized that the Meeky Mouse program would be associated with higher frequency of speaking behaviors, lower levels of anxiety, greater improvements in clinician-rated severity of mental illness, and higher clinician-rated improvement scores at post-treatment.

Enrollment: 38 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 6 to 12 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• 6-12 years old
• primary clinical diagnosis of Selective Mutism
• confirmed diagnosis of Selective Mutism by structured clinical parent interview
• fluent in English

Exclusion criteria

• below average intellectual functioning
• the presence of autism and schizophrenia

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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38 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Meeky Mouse program

Experimental group

Description:

14-week "Meeky Mouse" program consists of 8 training sessions (psychoeducation and anxiety management) followed by 6 practice sessions (exposure using social skills training)

Treatment:

Behavioral: Meeky Mouse program

Computer Games

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

14 weeks of interactive session with the therapist while playing computer games

Treatment:

Other: Computer Games