Anxiety Disorders
Conditions
Brief summary
Anxiety is the most frequent psychiatric problem in children. Untreated anxiety often has a chronic course, or may be a recurring condition. Anxiety in children predicts a variety of psychiatric disorders later in life, and involves problems regarding school performance and social relations. The literature provides a number of factors, which are suggested to increase the risk of developing an anxiety disorder. In particular, it has been shown that children of parents with anxiety disorders are at much greater risk of developing an anxiety disorder. Several studies have found a correlation between anxiety in the child, and parent behavior characterized by criticism, control and overprotectiveness. The present study aim to preliminary evaluate whether a eight week parent training intervention can reduce the incidence of anxiety disorders in children and to evaluate the feasibility of the parent training. Three central factors has been the basis in developing the parent training, all of which are considered to be involved in the development and maintenance of anxiety disorders in children (1) criticism and rejection, (2) control and overprotectiveness, and (3) parental modeling and reinforcement of anxiety. The goal of the parent training is therefore (1) to increase warmth and acceptance, (2) to increase autonomy for the child, and (3) modeling and reinforcement of brave behavior. The investigators intend to include 60 anxious parents in the study, who will be randomly allocated to either group parent training, Internet delivered parent training, or wait-list condition. The inclusion criteria are as follows: The parent states that he/she experiences anxiety or worry, the parents' child is 6-12 years old, and do not fulfill criteria for an anxiety disorder or major depressive disorder, the parent possesses everyday access to the Internet, and there is no presence of very aggravated family situations, such as parent substance abuse or severe depression, or domestic violence.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALGroup parent training for anxious parents
BEHAVIORALInternet delivered parent training for anxious parents
Sponsors
Karolinska Institutet
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* The parent states that he/she experiences anxiety or worry, * The parents' child is 6-12 years old, and do not fulfill criteria for an anxiety disorder or major depressive disorder * The parent possesses everyday access to the Internet
Exclusion criteria
* Presence of very aggravated family situations, such as parent substance abuse or severe depression, or domestic violence.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule - Child and Parent Version | At 12-month follow up |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Children Depression Inventory | Change from baseline in depressive symptom scores at 12 months follow-up | Rated by the child |
| The Rearing Behavior Questionnaire | Change from baseline in rearing behavior scores at 12 months follow-up | Rated by parents |
| Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire | Change from baseline in dfficulties scores at 12 months follow-up | Rated by parents |
| The Spence Children's Anxiety Scale | Change from baseline in anxiety symptom scores at 12 months follow-up | Rated by the child and the parent independently |
| Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale | Change from baseline in depressive symptom scores at 12 months follow-up | Rated by parents |
| Quality of Life Inventory | Change from baseline in quality of life scores at 12 months follow-up | Rated by parents |
| State-Trait Anxiety Inventory | Change from baseline in anxiety symptom scores at 12 months follow-up | Rated by parents |
Countries
Sweden
Outcome results
None listed