ACTsocially: Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help teens with social anxiety and oppositional behavior

ACTsocially: The (Dis)Similarities of ACT for Changing Internalizing and Externalizing Symptomatology in Adolescence

This project will test whether a transdiagnostic Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) program can reduce social anxiety and oppositional defiant behaviors in adolescents who have both conditions.

Quick facts

• Phase: Not applicable
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 54 (estimated)
• Ages: 12 Years to 18 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: University of Coimbra (Academic / other)
• Locations: 1 site (Coimbra)
• Trial ID: NCT07456631 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

The project runs three interventional trials delivering a transdiagnostic ACT program (ACTsocially) to adolescents with primary Oppositional Defiant Disorder who meet criteria for Social Anxiety Disorder, and to adolescents with primary Social Anxiety Disorder who meet criteria for Oppositional Defiant Disorder. Eligible participants are adolescents meeting diagnostic criteria for the target disorders; those with autism spectrum disorder, psychotic symptoms, impaired cognitive development, or who are currently in another psychological intervention are excluded. Outcomes include changes in internalizing and externalizing symptoms and measures of psychological flexibility to compare whether ACT produces similar or different effects across presentations. The intervention is delivered by the research team at the University of Coimbra with follow-up assessments across the treatment period.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adolescents whose main diagnosis is ODD (and who also meet criteria for SAD) or whose main diagnosis is SAD (and who also meet criteria for ODD), who are not currently receiving another psychological treatment, are the intended participants.

Not a fit: Adolescents with autism spectrum disorder, active psychotic symptoms, significant cognitive impairment, or those already enrolled in psychological treatment may be excluded and are less likely to benefit from this protocol.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the program could reduce anxiety and oppositional behaviors and improve peer relationships and daily functioning for adolescents.

How similar studies have performed: ACT has shown benefit for internalizing and externalizing symptoms in adult samples, but randomized adolescent trials of a transdiagnostic ACT targeting both ODD and SAD are limited, making this application relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Study I:

* Main diagnosis of Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
* Meeting diagnostic criteria for Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)

Study II:

* Main diagnosis of Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)
* Meeting diagnostic criteria for Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)

Exclusion Criteria (applies to both studies):

* Impaired cognitive development based on school records
* Presence of psychotic symptoms according to the diagnostic interview
* Diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder according to the diagnostic interview
* Currently undergoing another psychological intervention for a psychiatric condition

Note: Comorbid conditions other than the co-occurrence of ODD and SAD will not be considered exclusion criteria.

Where this trial is running

Coimbra

• Fpceuc — Coimbra, Portugal (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Francisca Alves M.Sc.

Conditions Social Anxiety Disorder; Oppositional Defiant Disorder; Acceptance and Commitment Therapy; Adolescents; Psychological Flexibility; Psychological Inflexibility