Anxiety, Behavioral Inhibition
Conditions
Brief summary
This project aims to develop and evaluate a novel early intervention program that targets the specific risk factors implicated in the development and persistence of shyness, social reticence, and withdrawal in children. The project includes a program development phase, Phase I (pilot test of full study procedures using developed treatment protocol), and Phase II (randomized controlled trial/RCT). Outcomes that will be assessed include change in child behavioral inhibition and parenting, using parent and teacher reports and observational data. Families are assessed at three time points: baseline, post-treatment (or at approximately 8 weeks for the control group), and 2 month follow-up.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALParent Psychoeducation
6-session parent psychoeducation group on child anxiety, following their children's lead, and encouraging approach behaviors.
BEHAVIORALTurtle Program
The Turtle Program involves a child social and emotional skills group (Social Skills Facilitated Play) and a modification of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy in which parents are provided in-vivo coaching in following their children's lead and encouraging approach behaviors within the peer context. The child group provides a forum of same-age peers to learn to develop social and emotion regulation skills. The Turtle Program is administered over an 8-week period.
Sponsors
University of Maryland, College Park
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
42 Months to 60 Months
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Child must be attending preschool; child must score within top 15% on parent-rated Behavioral Inhibition Questionnaire; child has a biological parent with at least 50% physical custody who consents to participate
Exclusion criteria
* Child has a diagnosis of pervasive developmental disorder or mental retardation; child scores above clinical cutoff on Social Communication Questionnaire; child is currently receiving treatment for anxiety
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in child anxiety disorder symptoms | Pre-treatment (baseline), post-treatment (week 8), and 2-month follow-up | Assessed with diagnostic interviews (Preschool Age Psychiatric Assessment) with parents |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed