None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
This project will examine a new treatment that is based on recent scientific findings about how children direct their attention to different stimuli that triggers anxiety. This treatment, called attention-focused treatment is delivered on a computer and takes about 30 min to complete. Children will complete the treatment 12 times over 3 weeks during sessions they can undertake at home. The treatment is thought to “work” because it helps children learn to control the focus of their attention on certain stimuli in the environment which in turn helps to prevent anxiety.
Interventions
Computer-Based Attention-Focused Treatment:
The treatment will involve children viewing a series of pictures on a computer screen presented in 3 x 3 displays; some pictures will be mildly aversive and unpleasant while others will be calm and pleasant pictures. To train children to focus on pleasant and calm stimuli within their environment in order to offset the anxiety response, children are required to find and click on the pleasant or calm target picture presented within each 3 x 3 display. T
Computer-Based Attention-Focused Treatment: The treatment will involve children viewing a series of pictures on a computer screen presented in 3 x 3 displays; some pictures will be mildly aversive and unpleasant while others will be calm and pleasant pictures. To train children to focus on pleasant and calm stimuli within their environment in order to offset the anxiety response, children are required to find and click on the pleasant or calm target picture presented within each 3 x 3 display. These displays are presented in a series of blocks of trials (20-40 trials per block over 9 blocks) in which the number of pleasant and calm targets varies from 1 to 3 targets children have to choose from. This is to promote active search for a pleasant or calm target. Children will complete the training program at home via a DVD sent to them containing the training program. They will complete the training independently 4 times per week for 3 weeks, consistent with prior paediatric research on attention modification training in children (Waters, Pittaway, Bradley, Mogg, & Pine, under review). Each training session will take approximately 20 minutes. The program has been piloted with several children during development and includes short breaks throughout the training. Children are also encouraged to use key messages throughout the program to assist with learning to direct their attention to pleasant and calm targets. These include "look for good', "look for calm', 'use both options' and 'never give up' trying to utilise these strategies. Parents are provided with an information booklet about the program and how they can assist their child in learning the strategies.
Sponsors
Dr Allison Waters
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
7 Years to 13 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Participants will be children aged between 7 and approximately 12-13 years old and will be presenting with a principal anxiety disorder as determined by the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule (ADIS) - parent and child interview schedules
Exclusion criteria
Children with another psychiatric disorder as their principal (i.e., most severe disorder) other than anxiety disorders, organic brain damage, developmental disorders. Children with vision impairment that would prevent them from completing the treatment
Outcome results
None listed