Does the use of a standard information-gathering package help with assessment and diagnosis for children and young people with emotional difficulties who have been referred to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)?

STAndardised DIagnostic Assessment for children and adolescents with emotional difficulties (STADIA): a multi-centre randomised controlled trial

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN15748675

Enrollment

1210

Registered

2019-05-29

Start date

2019-06-14

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2025-03-31

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Behavioural and emotional disorders with onset usually occurring in childhood and adolescence Mental and Behavioural Disorders

Interventions

This research focuses on children with emotional difficulties who have been referred to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). Referrals are sometimes turned down by CAMHS, often because

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: Inclusion criteria for the child/young person: 1. Aged 5 to 17 years. 2. Referred to outpatient multidisciplinary specialist CAMHS. 3. Presenting with emotional difficulties. 4. If aged <16, has an eligible individual with parental responsibility (the parent/carer - see eligibility criteria below) willing and able to participate in the trial. 5. If aged 16-17, has capacity to provide valid written informed consent. 6. If aged 16-17 and participating without a parent/carer, able to complete the assessment tool in English. 7. If aged 16-17 and participating without a parent/carer, access to internet and email or telephone. Inclusion criteria for the parent/carer: 1. Individual with parental responsibility for the child/young person referred to CAMHS. 2. Adequate knowledge of the child/young person to be able to complete the assessment tool (i.e., known for at least 6 months). 3. Has capacity to provide valid written informed consent. 4. Access to internet and email or telephone. 5. Able to complete the assessment tool in English.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: Exclusion criteria for the child/young person: 1. Emergency or urgent referral to outpatient multidisciplinary specialist CAMHS (i.e. requires an expedited assessment) according to local risk assessment procedures. 2. Child has severe learning disability. 3. Previously randomised in the STADIA trial. Exclusion criteria for the parent/carer: 1. Local authority representatives designated to care for the child/young person.

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Clinician-made diagnosis decision about the presence of an emotional disorder within 12 months of randomisation. Diagnosis of an emotional disorder will be coded as ‘yes’; absence or uncertainty (for example, reflecting ongoing assessment / investigation) about the presence of an emotional disorder will be coded as ‘no’.	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
Current secondary outcome measures as of 14/08/2023: 1. A clinician-made diagnosis decision about the presence of an emotional disorder within 18 months of randomisation. Diagnosis of an emotional disorder will be coded as ‘yes’; absence or uncertainty (for example, reflecting ongoing assessment / investigation) about the presence of an emotional disorder will be coded as ‘no’. 2. Acceptance of index referral – measured as: accepted by CAMHS = yes vs. declined by CAMHS= no; collected within 12 months of randomisation. 3. Acceptance of any referral within a) 12 months and b) within 18 months of randomisation – measured as: any referral accepted by CAMHS = yes vs. no referrals accepted by CAMHS= no; collected within 12 months and 18 months of randomisation. 4. Discharge from CAMHS within a) 12 months and b) within 18 months of randomisation– measured as; date of discharge within 12 months or 18 months recorded in notes = yes, no date of discharge or discharge date after 18 months = no; collected within 12 months and 18 months of randomisation. 5. Re-referral to CAMHS within 12 months and 18 months - measured as; re-referral documented within 12 or 18 months = yes, no re-referral documented within 18 months = no; collected within 12 months and 18 months of randomisation. 6. Confirmed diagnosis decision – measured as: diagnosis of an emotional disorder or confirmed absence of an emotional disorder coded as ‘yes’ vs. uncertainty about the presence of an emotional disorder coded as ‘no’; collected within 12 months and within 18 months of randomisation. 7. Time from randomisation to diagnosis of emotional disorder – measured as: the time (in days) as derived from the randomisation date and date of diagnosis; collected within 12 months and 18 months of randomisation. 8. Diagnoses made over the 12 month and 18 month period from randomisation – measured using: standard proforma (pre-specified diagnoses). Alternative possible diagnoses identified from the clinical notes will b	—

Measure

Time frame

Current secondary outcome measures as of 14/08/2023: 1. A clinician-made diagnosis decision about the presence of an emotional disorder within 18 months of randomisation. Diagnosis of an emotional disorder will be coded as ‘yes’; absence or uncertainty (for example, reflecting ongoing assessment / investigation) about the presence of an emotional disorder will be coded as ‘no’. 2. Acceptance of index referral – measured as: accepted by CAMHS = yes vs. declined by CAMHS= no; collected within 12 months of randomisation. 3. Acceptance of any referral within a) 12 months and b) within 18 months of randomisation – measured as: any referral accepted by CAMHS = yes vs. no referrals accepted by CAMHS= no; collected within 12 months and 18 months of randomisation. 4. Discharge from CAMHS within a) 12 months and b) within 18 months of randomisation– measured as; date of discharge within 12 months or 18 months recorded in notes = yes, no date of discharge or discharge date after 18 months = no; collected within 12 months and 18 months of randomisation. 5. Re-referral to CAMHS within 12 months and 18 months - measured as; re-referral documented within 12 or 18 months = yes, no re-referral documented within 18 months = no; collected within 12 months and 18 months of randomisation. 6. Confirmed diagnosis decision – measured as: diagnosis of an emotional disorder or confirmed absence of an emotional disorder coded as ‘yes’ vs. uncertainty about the presence of an emotional disorder coded as ‘no’; collected within 12 months and within 18 months of randomisation. 7. Time from randomisation to diagnosis of emotional disorder – measured as: the time (in days) as derived from the randomisation date and date of diagnosis; collected within 12 months and 18 months of randomisation. 8. Diagnoses made over the 12 month and 18 month period from randomisation – measured using: standard proforma (pre-specified diagnoses). Alternative possible diagnoses identified from the clinical notes will b

—

Countries

England, United Kingdom

Contacts

Public ContactLaura Wyatt

stadia@nottingham.ac.uk+44 (0)1158231588

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 18, 2026