Children's Therapy for Emotional and Behavioral Issues

Recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Jessica Pun, BA

Age: < 18

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Guelph

Disqualifiers: Low cognitive functioning, suicidality, psychosis, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Approved in 2 Jurisdictions This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

202 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether participants need to stop taking their current medications. However, since medication tracking is part of the study, it seems likely that participants can continue their current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Modular Approach to Therapy for Children with Anxiety, Depression, Trauma or Conduct Problems (MATCH-ADTC)?

Research shows that MATCH-ADTC outperformed usual care and standard treatments in clinical trials in the USA, improving outcomes for children with anxiety, depression, trauma, and conduct problems. It is designed to be flexible and address multiple issues at once, making it more effective in real-world settings where children often have more than one problem. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is the Modular Approach to Therapy for Children (MATCH-ADTC) safe for children?

The available research does not specifically mention safety concerns for the Modular Approach to Therapy for Children (MATCH-ADTC), but it has been used in clinical trials and is designed to be a flexible, evidence-based treatment for children with various emotional and behavioral issues. ^{1 2 3 5 6}

How is the MATCH-ADTC treatment different from other treatments for children's emotional and behavioral issues?

MATCH-ADTC is unique because it uses a flexible, modular approach to address multiple issues like anxiety, depression, trauma, and conduct problems in children, allowing it to adapt to changing needs and comorbidities (multiple conditions at once) more effectively than standard treatments that focus on one issue at a time. ^{1 2 3 7 8}

What is the purpose of this trial?

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn about how psychotherapy works for children and adolescents aged 8 - 15 with anxiety, depression, trauma, or disruptive behaviour. The main question it aims to answer is: • Is the biobehavioural regulation of negative emotion a transdiagnostic mechanism of treatment response in psychotherapy for children with anxiety, depression, trauma and/or disruptive behaviour? Children and their parents will be randomly assigned to an evidence-based, transdiagnostic treatment (the Modular Approach to Therapy for Children with Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, and Conduct Problems; MATCH-ADTC) or a waitlist control condition. Participants in both groups will complete a baseline assessment, weekly measures consisting of brief symptom scales and medication tracking, and quarterly assessments every 3 months. Following the intervention/waitlist period, our team will conduct post-test assessments. All assessments, except for the weekly surveys, will consist of symptom scales, clinical interviews, experimental tasks and physiological measures.

Research Team

Kristel Thomassin, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Guelph

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for children aged 8-15 with anxiety, depression, trauma or disruptive behavior who speak English. Their parents must also speak English and be over 18. The study seeks to understand how therapy can help manage emotions in these children.

Inclusion Criteria

I am seeking help for my anxiety, depression, or disruptive behaviors.

My child is between 8 and 15 years old and speaks English well.

Exclusion Criteria

My child is currently suicidal and needs immediate care or hospitalization.

Child meets criteria for psychosis, schizophrenia spectrum disorders, eating disorders, or autism spectrum disorders

Child does not assent to participate in the study

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Baseline Assessment

Participants complete a baseline assessment including symptom scales, clinical interviews, experimental tasks, and physiological measures

1 week

1 visit (in-person)

Treatment/Waitlist

Participants receive the MATCH-ADTC treatment or are placed on a waitlist. Weekly measures include brief symptom scales and medication tracking

12-24 weeks

Weekly virtual check-ins

Quarterly Assessments

Participants undergo quarterly assessments every 3 months, including symptom scales, clinical interviews, experimental tasks, and physiological measures

3 months

1 visit (in-person) every 3 months

Post-test Assessment

Post-test assessments are conducted after the intervention/waitlist period, including symptom scales, clinical interviews, experimental tasks, and physiological measures

1 week

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4-6 months

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Modular Approach to Therapy for Children with Anxiety, Depression, Trauma or Conduct Problems

Trial Overview The study tests a therapy called MATCH-ADTC against a waitlist control group to see if it helps kids better regulate negative emotions across various mental health issues. Participants will undergo assessments including interviews and experimental tasks.

Participant Groups

Group I: Intervention Arm Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Treatment will be administered to participants in this arm.

Group II: Control Arm Active Control 1 Intervention

No treatment will be administered to participants in this arm until post-test assessment has been completed.

Modular Approach to Therapy for Children with Anxiety, Depression, Trauma or Conduct Problems is already approved in United States for the following indications:

Approved in United States as MATCH-ADTC for:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Trauma
• Conduct Problems

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Guelph

Lead Sponsor

Trials

87

Recruited

15,100+

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

Collaborator

Trials

1,417

Recruited

26,550,000+

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Collaborator

Trials

388

Recruited

84,200+

Findings from Research

The MATCH-ADTC program aims to improve the use of evidence-based treatments for children with mental health issues in Norway by addressing the complexities of their needs, with a study involving 280 children aged 6-14.5 years.

This study will compare outcomes between children receiving MATCH treatment and those receiving standard care, potentially leading to better treatment results and increased use of evidence-based practices among clinicians.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluating Modular Approach to Therapy for Children with Anxiety, Depression, Trauma and Conduct Problems (MATCH-ADCT) in Norwegian child and adolescent outpatient clinics: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Hagen, KA., Olseth, AR., Laland, H., et al.[2020]

The MATCH-ADTC program is designed to provide flexible, modular treatment for young people with mental health disorders, addressing multiple issues within a single training framework, which could improve access to evidence-based therapies.

This study will assess the effectiveness of MATCH-ADTC in a randomized controlled trial involving 200 youth participants aged 7-14, aiming to enhance clinical outcomes and increase the use of evidence-based practices in mental health services.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Modular Approach to Therapy for Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, or Conduct Problems in outpatient child and adolescent mental health services in New Zealand: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Lucassen, MF., Stasiak, K., Crengle, S., et al.[2018]

The Modular Approach to Therapy for Children (MATCH) training led to significantly higher adherence to empirically supported treatment (EST) practices among clinicians compared to usual care (UC), indicating its effectiveness in promoting best practices in mental health treatment.

Despite the increased fidelity to EST in the MATCH group, there were no significant differences in clinical outcomes or service delivery efficiency between MATCH and UC, suggesting that the high level of EST already present in UC may have limited the potential benefits of MATCH.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of Clinician Training in the Modular Approach to Therapy for Children vs Usual Care on Clinical Outcomes and Use of Empirically Supported Treatments: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Merry, SN., Hopkins, S., Lucassen, MFG., et al.[2020]

A significant number of children with mental health issues do not receive evidence-based psychotherapy, with less than half meeting with a therapist and fewer than 10% completing the full treatment protocol.

The study highlights the need for shorter and more flexible evidence-based treatment protocols to improve accessibility and adherence in community mental health settings.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The compatibility of clinical child mental health treatment and evidence-based treatment protocols. Whiteside, SPH., Leffler, JM., Hord, MK., et al.[2020]

Seven years after training, practitioners reported using the MATCH approach with 55% of their clients, indicating sustained integration of this therapy model into their practice.

The effectiveness and ease of implementing MATCH modules were positively correlated with the amount of prior experience practitioners had, although the actual use of specific modules did not always align with their proven effectiveness, highlighting challenges in applying research findings to practice.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Practitioners' Use and Evaluation of Transdiagnostic Youth Psychotherapy Years After Training and Consultation Have Ended. Thomassin, K., Marchette, LK., Weisz, JR.[2020]

Children who experience early trauma often face significant negative effects on their biological, emotional, social, and cognitive development, highlighting the need for effective prevention and treatment strategies.

Child-parent psychotherapy (CPP) is an evidence-based intervention that effectively reduces symptoms of traumatic stress in young children and helps restore their normal developmental progress, making it a valuable approach for mental health programs serving traumatized families.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Giving voice to the unsayable: repairing the effects of trauma in infancy and early childhood. Lieberman, AF., Van Horn, P.[2018]

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is an effective, goal-oriented treatment for children and adolescents, helping them understand and change the negative thoughts and behaviors linked to their emotional problems.

While CBT shows promising benefits for children with physical health issues and chronic conditions, more research is needed to confirm these positive effects.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evidence-based practice in cognitive-behavioural therapy. Stallard, P.[2022]

Behavioral and cognitive behavioral treatments are effective for addressing trauma-related issues in children, but many lack access to these services.

The article presents a community-based program that delivers in-home and in-school treatment, making evidence-based interventions more accessible to children and families in need.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Community outreach program for child victims of traumatic events: a community-based project for underserved populations. De Arellano, MA., Waldrop, AE., Deblinger, E., et al.[2008]

References

1. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluating Modular Approach to Therapy for Children with Anxiety, Depression, Trauma and Conduct Problems (MATCH-ADCT) in Norwegian child and adolescent outpatient clinics: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. [2020]

2. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Modular Approach to Therapy for Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, or Conduct Problems in outpatient child and adolescent mental health services in New Zealand: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. [2018]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of Clinician Training in the Modular Approach to Therapy for Children vs Usual Care on Clinical Outcomes and Use of Empirically Supported Treatments: A Randomized Clinical Trial. [2020]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The compatibility of clinical child mental health treatment and evidence-based treatment protocols. [2020]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Practitioners' Use and Evaluation of Transdiagnostic Youth Psychotherapy Years After Training and Consultation Have Ended. [2020]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Giving voice to the unsayable: repairing the effects of trauma in infancy and early childhood. [2018]

7. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evidence-based practice in cognitive-behavioural therapy. [2022]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Community outreach program for child victims of traumatic events: a community-based project for underserved populations. [2008]