Overview
Research shows that many children face anxiety and stress related problems. However, as much as 70-80% of children do not receive help. The aim of this project is to offer a training for children who are hindered by their shyness or fears, so that all children can develop freely without being held back and so that the risk of escalation of fear and stress in the long term can be prevented. In this project the prevention training 'Learn to Dare!' will be offered to children between the ages of 8 and 18 where the long-term outcomes and the program itself will be evaluated for attractiveness and satisfaction. With the evidence-based program 'Learn to Dare!' children between the ages of 8 and 12 learn to stand up for themselves in a safe environment, to face the situations that they find exciting and to be more confident in their own abilities. This project aims to adapt the program so that it can be available up to and including 18 years in the future.
Description
Participants are recruited via the 'Knowledge Centre Anxiety and Stress in youth' (KAS) telephone line, by a research assistant or via the waiting list of LUBEC. Following recruitment, a research assistant conducts a screening call with the parent(s) lasting approximately half an hour to determine the child's eligibility for the project. Subsequently, the research assistant collaborates with a therapist from KAS/LUBEC to evaluate the case. If both agree that the child meets the criteria of the 'Learn to Dare!' program, the research assistant proceeds to conduct a diagnostic interview with both the child and parents. When the child still meets the requirements for 'Learn to Dare!', the therapist from LUBEC, who is going to give the trainings, will do an intake with the child and parents.
When the child still meets the criteria after this intake, a subsequent appointment will take place at LUBEC in Leiden, that serves as an opportunity for parents and children to familiarize themselves with the therapist and complete the baseline 1 measurement. This appointment will take about 1,5-2 hours. Two research assistants will administer questionnaires to the parent(s) and the child: demographics questionnaire, SCARED, CDI, WIRK-ALL. In addition, they will administer the anxiety scale of the SCID in combination with the ADIS severity index to the parent(s) and the child.
After baseline 1, there will be a waiting period of 4 weeks. After this period, the child and parents complete the SCARED questionnaire online (30 minutes) before commencing the treatment phase. The treatment comprises eight group sessions of 'Learn to Dare!' (one session per week; 1.5 hours each) along with assigned homework. After those eight weeks of treatment, the post-treatment session will take place at LUBEC (1,5-2 hours). The therapist will meet with the child and the parent(s) to evaluate the treatment together. The research assistants will administer the anxiety scale of the SCID in combination with the ADIS severity index to the parent(s) and the child. In addition, a couple of questionnaires will be administered: SCARED, CDI, WIRK-ALL, Training Evaluation Questionnaire. Lastly, there will be three follow-ups 6, 12, and 24 months after treatment (1,5 hours per follow-up). Parents have the option to conduct these follow-ups either at LUBEC or online. The anxiety scale of the SCID, along with the severity index of the ADIS questionnaire, is administered, along with supplementary questionnaires: SCARED, CDI, WIRK-ALL.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Cut-off scores of the SCARED: for girls 31 and for boys 27.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Currently under treatment for anxiety complaints or under treatment in the mental health care system for other internalizing complaints.
- Anxiety problems or comorbid problems that require attention or treatment (including a 6 or higher on the severity index (CSR) of the ADIS and a score above the clinical cut-off on the Child Depression Inventory.)
- Difficulty in understanding the training.