TY - JOUR
T1 - Prevention of internalizing difficulties in the middle years
T2 - Protocol for a noninferiority randomized trial of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Children and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
AU - Taylor, Amanda
AU - Wright, Kathleen
AU - Roberts, Rachel M.
AU - Proeve, Michael
AU - Turner, Jasmine
AU - Miller, Caroline
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Authors. Early Intervention in Psychiatry published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - Aim: Mindfulness-based interventions have been tested as preventive programs for childhood internalizing difficulties, but most research has been at a ‘universal’ level with small to null effects. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Children (MBCT-C) has similar effects to Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) when used as a small-group, targeted preventive program. Knowledge gaps include the longer-term effectiveness of MBCT-C relative to CBT and the benefits of adding a parent module. This trial aims to compare MCBT-C to traditional CBT, including a parent module, to 15-months post-intervention and to test the feasibility and acceptability of adding a parent module. Methods: Participants will be recruited from primary schools in areas of socio-economic disadvantage in South Australia (n = 194). Children (aged 9–12) years with signs of internalizing difficulties (e.g., shy, withdrawn, worried), and their parents, will be eligible for this two-armed randomized controlled non-inferiority trial (RCT). Children will participate in 10 group sessions of MBCT-C or CBT, facilitated by psychologists, and parents from both conditions will participate in two parent-only group sessions. Child self-report measures include depression and anxiety, as well as attention, mindfulness and self-compassion. Parent measures include symptoms of depression and anxiety, mindfulness, and parent–child relationship strength. The primary outcome will be child anxiety and depression (Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale-25). Measures will be collected pre and post intervention, and at 3, 6, 12 and 15-month follow up. Results: Schools will be recruited from October 2022. Nomination of children will commence from February 2023. Program implementation will begin May 2023. Conclusions: This trial will have implications for the feasibility of involving parents in preventative programs, as well as whether mindfulness-based interventions prevent internalizing difficulties over time.
AB - Aim: Mindfulness-based interventions have been tested as preventive programs for childhood internalizing difficulties, but most research has been at a ‘universal’ level with small to null effects. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Children (MBCT-C) has similar effects to Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) when used as a small-group, targeted preventive program. Knowledge gaps include the longer-term effectiveness of MBCT-C relative to CBT and the benefits of adding a parent module. This trial aims to compare MCBT-C to traditional CBT, including a parent module, to 15-months post-intervention and to test the feasibility and acceptability of adding a parent module. Methods: Participants will be recruited from primary schools in areas of socio-economic disadvantage in South Australia (n = 194). Children (aged 9–12) years with signs of internalizing difficulties (e.g., shy, withdrawn, worried), and their parents, will be eligible for this two-armed randomized controlled non-inferiority trial (RCT). Children will participate in 10 group sessions of MBCT-C or CBT, facilitated by psychologists, and parents from both conditions will participate in two parent-only group sessions. Child self-report measures include depression and anxiety, as well as attention, mindfulness and self-compassion. Parent measures include symptoms of depression and anxiety, mindfulness, and parent–child relationship strength. The primary outcome will be child anxiety and depression (Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale-25). Measures will be collected pre and post intervention, and at 3, 6, 12 and 15-month follow up. Results: Schools will be recruited from October 2022. Nomination of children will commence from February 2023. Program implementation will begin May 2023. Conclusions: This trial will have implications for the feasibility of involving parents in preventative programs, as well as whether mindfulness-based interventions prevent internalizing difficulties over time.
KW - children
KW - internalizing behaviour
KW - mindfulness
KW - school
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85184426991&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/eip.13501
DO - 10.1111/eip.13501
M3 - Article
C2 - 38318942
AN - SCOPUS:85184426991
SN - 1751-7885
JO - Early Intervention in Psychiatry
JF - Early Intervention in Psychiatry
ER -