None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
The goal of this study is to test a new digital program designed to help parents support their children in overcoming nighttime fears and related anxiety. The program delivers primarily exposure with optional sleep treatment at the end of the program, all delivered through an app that families can use at home. Parents are supported with sessions with a therapist. We aim to find out whether this parent-led approach is acceptable and feasible for families and whether it helps reduce children’s nighttime fears, anxiety symptoms, and sleep difficulties. We hypothesise that the digital intervention will be acceptable and feasible for families and will lead to improvements in children’s nighttime fears, anxiety, and sleep outcomes.
Interventions
The Nighttime Fears and Worries Intervention is an approximately 8–10 week digital program designed to help parents and children reduce nighttime fears and associated anxiety. The intervention is delivered through an app accessible via mobile or web browser. It consists of exposure activities and modules, including (a) up to 5 parent-only modules and (b) up to 3 parent-and-child modules. These modules incorporate core therapeutic components such as psychoeducation about nighttime fears, informat
The Nighttime Fears and Worries Intervention is an approximately 8–10 week digital program designed to help parents and children reduce nighttime fears and associated anxiety. The intervention is delivered through an app accessible via mobile or web browser. It consists of exposure activities and modules, including (a) up to 5 parent-only modules and (b) up to 3 parent-and-child modules. These modules incorporate core therapeutic components such as psychoeducation about nighttime fears, information about exposure, parent training, and sleep hygiene. Families are encouraged to practice their exposure activities daily. The core intervention runs for around 8 weeks. Modules typically take approximately 10–60 minutes to complete, depending on content and participant engagement. Content is delivered through a combination of text, videos, examples, and interactive digital activities.Families may be offered an optional 2-week bedtime fading component after the core program if persistent sleep difficulties are identified and parents express interest. This component primarily delivers bedtime fading strategies. If eligible, parents will complete a daily sleep diary to inform personalised bedtime fading adjustments. o Bedtime fading is a sleep treatment involves temporarily moving the child’s bedtime to closely coincide the child’s natural sleep onset, in order to improve sleep onset and sleep maintenance. Procedures Participants will complete screening and consent before starting the program. After baseline assessment, families will access the intervention digitally and complete modules and activities at home. Optional sleep modules will be offered at the end of the core program. Post-intervention assessments will occur after completion of the core program and any optional modules, with follow-up approximately 3 months later. Up to two brief telehealth sessions (approximately 20–30 minutes) will be provided early and mid-program to support engagement and troubleshoot difficulties. Families completing the optional sleep module may receive an additional support session. Design The intervention is parent-led and delivered individually via a digital platform. Therapist support is delivered by an AHPRA-registered psychologist using a structured guide. The program is accessed online via app or web browser and completed at home. Personalisation Exposure tasks and bedtime fading strategies will be tailored based on participant responses and sleep diary data. Adherence and Fidelity App usage will be tracked automatically, and reminders will be sent via digital channels (e.g., email, SMS, push notifications) to support engagement. Therapist sessions will follow a structured guide, and a proportion will be reviewed for fidelity.
Sponsors
UNSW Sydney
Study design
Allocation
Non-randomised trial
Intervention model
Single group
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
7 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Children and their parent/carer will be included based on the following criteria and assessed through parent-report: • Children aged 7-12 years • Children with nighttime fears • Children with sleep disturbances • Capacity to answer questions independently or with assistance if needed, and • Participants require access to a device (e.g. mobile, laptop or iPad) and internet to use the digital program. Inclusion criteria for parents: • Parent/carer of a child who meets inclusion criteria above • Capacity to support their child through the intervention e.g., sufficient English comprehension capacity to complete the study
Exclusion criteria
The following exclusion criteria will be based on parent-report: • Children with behavioural or attentional difficulties that are likely to interfere with participation in exposure and bedtime fading (e.g., severe ODD, conduct problems, or ADHD symptoms exceeding anxiety severity) will be excluded. • Child has a diagnosed intellectual disability • Symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea • Child is currently receiving any psychological therapy (other than school counsellor support), i.e., seeing a psychologist for and/or using a CBT-based program (e.g., Cool Kids or BRAVE) for psychological support o Note: child will be eligible if they are receiving other types of (i.e., non-CBT-based) psychological treatment, including supportive counselling • Child recently started taking medications, has plans to start initiating medication, or changing medication for anxiety during the intervention o Note: child will be eligible if their medication is stable across the intervention • Child is reported to have life-threatening suicidal ideation and/or had serious suicidal ideation in the last month. • Previously or currently completing the Courage Quest pilot study or efficacy trial • Parent/carer is unable or unwilling to provide informed consent or participate in study activities
Outcome results
None listed