Child Behavior Problem
Conditions
Keywords
Children, group cognitive behavioral therapy, hair cortisol concentration, internalizing symptoms, externalizing symptoms, sleep disturbance symptoms
Brief summary
This study aims to examine the relationship between hair cortisol concentration and behavior and sleep disturbance symptoms in children with psychiatric disorders. It also investigates potential changes in hair cortisol and symptomatology after group-based cognitive behavior therapy. Furthermore, the study explores the effects of any alterations in hair cortisol concentration levels on potential behavior and sleep disturbance symptom change over the course of the study.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALThe Friends Program
A group CBT intervention comprising ten weekly 60-minute sessions followed by two booster sessions.
Sponsors
Helsinki University Central Hospital
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
6 Years to 13 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* symptoms of anxiety or depression * deficiencies in emotional and behavioral skills impairing functioning * sufficient social and cognitive skills to participate in group work.
Exclusion criteria
* excessive physical aggression * excessive physical restlessness * severity of psychiatric symptoms requiring individual psychotherapy (e.g., acute suicidality).
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Hair Cortisol Concentration | Before and after the group cognitive behavioral intervention (duration from pre-GCBT to post-GCBT circa 4.7 months), and at a 7-month follow-up | Level of hair cortisol concentration measured from hair samples |
| Parent- and teacher rated internalizing and externalizing symptoms | Before and after the group cognitive behavioral intervention (duration from pre-GCBT to post-GCBT circa 4.7 months), and at a 7-month follow-up | The Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment (ASEBA). Scores below 60 reflect the normal range, scores from 60 to 63 the borderline range, and scores above 63 the clinical range |
| Child-rated internalizing symptoms | Before and after the group cognitive behavioral intervention (duration from pre-GCBT to post-GCBT circa 4.7 months), and at a 7-month follow-up | The Spence Children´s Anxiety Scale. A total score of 60 or higher is indicative of elevated anxiety. |
| Parent-rated sleep disturbance symptoms | Before and after the group cognitive behavioral intervention (duration from pre-GCBT to post-GCBT circa 4.7 months), and at a 7-month follow-up | Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC). A cutoff score of 39 and above has been suggested to identify children with sleep disturbance. |
Outcome results
None listed