Mental health disorders (anxiety, depression and disruptive behaviour) in children and young people with neurological conditions. Mental and Behavioural Disorders Anxiety
Conditions
Interventions
Intervention arm: a 10-session guided self-help cognitive behavioural intervention delivered over the telephone over 12 weeks
Comparator: 12-week waiting list
Sponsors
Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: 1. Young people aged 7-18 years 2. With a neurological condition and waiting for/undergoing assessment/treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital 3. Identified by the DAWBA as meeting criteria for impairing common psychiatric symptoms (anxiety, depression or disruptive behaviour)
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: 1. Children/families who do not speak/understand English sufficiently well to access the screening assessments and interventions. This is primarily due to limited funding capacity for interpreters, however should sufficient additional funding be obtained, then we would seek to recruit these families and to hire interpreters to allow equitable access to the intervention. 2. Children who have an intellectual disability at a level meaning that they cannot access the screening and/or intervention. This will be determined by clinical judgement, either prior to screening, if the child is already known to GOSH, or at the initial assessment for guided self-help. This will not be defined by IQ, but by clinical judgement; children will not be excluded because of the presence of an LD per se, but because of being unable to access the materials. People will not be excluded post-testing on the basis of IQ score. Ability to participate may be different for younger children with relatively low IQs, whose parents complete the materials, compared to older children with the same IQ level who need to complete the materials themselves. If the learning disability is identified during the initial assessment (through clinical judgement), young people will be referred to other more appropriate services, as necessary (with the agreement of the family). 3.In phases 2 and 3, children who screen for a severe mental health disorder other than depression, anxiety or disruptive behavioural disorders, or whose screening is otherwise suggestive of risk will be excluded and referred to other services as appropriate. The research team comprises of a number of trained clinicians, who will be well-placed to liaise with, and refer to, other services. This may include (although is not restricted to) local CAMHS, the GOSH Psychological Medicine Team or paediatric psychology. This procedure will also be followed should it become apparent that there is risk, or a requirement for a higher intensity intervention, during the course of guided self-help. Consistent with best practice guidance (e.g. Department of Health, 2007) if the risk is immediate and requires urgent assessment or higher intensity intervention, then children will be referred on as necessary. Liaison will continue until the risk is adequately managed.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| 1. Primary mental health outcome: Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) total score post-intervention and follow-up (weeks 12 and 24) 2. Primary physical health outcome measure: Paediatric Quality of Life Generic Core Scales (weeks 12 and 24) | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| 1. Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (12 weeks and 24 weeks) 2. Development and Wellbeing Assessment (12 weeks and 24 weeks) | — |
Countries
England, United Kingdom
Contacts
Public ContactSophie Bennett
Outcome results
None listed