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Contact the study team using the details below to take part. If there are no contact details below please ask your doctor in the first instance.
Prof
Nick
Midgley
+44 (0)20 7794 2313
eric@annafreud.org
Dr
ERiC
Trial Manager
+44 (0)20 7794 2313
eric@annafreud.org
Prof
Nick
Midgley
+44 (0)20 7794 2313
nick.midgley@annafreud.org
More information about this study, what is involved and how to take part can be found on the study website.
Mental health in school-age children with mixed emotional and behavioural problems
This information is provided directly by researchers, and we recognise that it isn't always easy to understand. We are working with researchers to improve the accessibility of this information. In some summaries, you may come across links to external websites. These websites will have more information to help you better understand the study.
There were twice as many children and young people referred to Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services (CYPMHS) in 2020/21 compared with the previous 12 months. Many will present with mixed emotional and behavioural difficulties, but most mental health interventions are developed for single disorders. This means there is a lack of evidence-based interventions for this group that effectively target mechanisms underlying co-occurring mental health difficulties. There is a need for research on transdiagnostic interventions that target mechanisms underlying such mixed presentations, especially for school-age children (ages 6-12). Transdiagnostic interventions allow clinicians to address diverse diagnoses within a single treatment model, so limiting the training burden.
Difficulties with emotion regulation (the processes and strategies involved in regulating emotional states) present across a wide range of mental disorders and ER is the best-evidenced mechanism implicated in a range of common mental health disorders. One way in which to promote adaptive emotion regulation is by attending to the capacity to understand oneself and others in terms of underlying mental states (mentalizing). The ability to mentalize one’s own experiences and those of others plays a key role in coping with stress, regulating emotions, and forming stable relationships. MBT is a well-evidenced therapy for a range of populations that aims to promote mentalization, which in turn increases ER capacities, leading to decreased emotional and behavioural difficulties. Until now, children aged under 12 years have not had the benefit of this transdiagnostic approach, as the evidence for its effectiveness in this population has not yet been examined. The aim of this study is to test the clinical- and cost-effectiveness of MBT for school-age children with emotional and behavioural difficulties. If effective, it is hoped that this scalable, transdiagnostic approach can become available to the growing number of children presenting to mental health services with a mix of emotional and behavioural difficulties. In addition, it may enable a more efficient allocation of health and social care resources by reducing the need for longer-term, more intensive specialist mental health interventions.
Start dates may differ between countries and research sites. The research team are responsible for keeping the information up-to-date.
The recruitment start and end dates are as follows:
2023 Protocol article in https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0289503 (added 18/08/2023)
You can take part if:
Current inclusion criteria as of 11/09/2024:
1. Child aged 6-12 years at the time of randomisation
2. Carer-reported Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ):
2.1. Total difficulties score for child ≥14
2.2. Emotional problems ≥5 AND/OR conduct score ≥3
2.3. Functional impairment score ≥1
3. Valid informed consent
4. Parent(s)/carer(s) have the capacity to engage with the trial, including providing informed consent and completing baseline and
You may not be able to take part if:
Current exclusion criteria as of 11/09/2024:1. Indications of, or pre-existing clinical diagnosis in child of psychotic disorder2. Indications of, or pre-existing clinical diagnosis in child of eating disorder3. Indications of, or pre-existing clinical diagnosis in child of severe learning difficulty4. Children will be excluded where the referring clinician identifies an immediate risk of harm to self or others5. Current participation in another mental health intervention trial. This includes where the family has previously participated in the ERiC study.6. Children with a sibling, or another child who lives in their home, who has taken part in the ERiC study
Previous exclusion criteria:1. Indications of, or pre-existing clinical diagnosis (in child or parent) of psychotic disorder 2. Indications of, or pre-existing clinical diagnosis (in child or parent) of autism spectrum disorder (ASD)3. Indications of, or pre-existing clinical diagnosis (in child or parent) of psychotic disorder 4. Indications of, or pre-existing clinical diagnosis (in child or parent) of pervasive developmental disorder5. Indications of, or pre-existing clinical diagnosis (in child or parent) of eating disorder6. Indications of, or pre-existing clinical diagnosis (in child or parent) of severe learning difficulty7. Indications of, or pre-existing clinical diagnosis (in parent) of severe substance abuse disorder8. Children will be excluded where the referring clinician identifies an immediate risk of harm to self or others
Below are the locations for where you can take part in the trial. Please note that not all sites may be open.
Prof
Nick
Midgley
+44 (0)20 7794 2313
nick.midgley@annafreud.org
Dr
ERiC
Trial Manager
+44 (0)20 7794 2313
eric@annafreud.org
Prof
Nick
Midgley
+44 (0)20 7794 2313
eric@annafreud.org
More information about this study, what is involved and how to take part can be found on the study website.
The study is sponsored by Anna Freud Centre and funded by Kavlifondet; Anna Freud Centre.
Your feedback is important to us. It will help us improve the quality of the study information on this site. Please answer both questions.
Or CPMS 53863
You can print or share the study information with your GP/healthcare provider or contact the research team directly.
