Invest in Play: a parent program to reduce problem behavior in school‑age children

Evaluation of the Invest in Play Program - a New Parent Intervention for Children With Problem Behavior

This program will test whether the Invest in Play (iiP) parent program can reduce problem behavior in children aged 6–12 and improve parenting practices by comparing families who take the program with a control group.

Quick facts

• Phase: NA
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 180 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: University of Tromso (other)
• Locations: 4 sites (Bergen and 3 other locations)
• Trial ID: NCT06984809 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

Researchers will randomize parents of children aged 6–12 referred to outpatient clinics for behavioral problems to either the iiP parent program or a control group and collect surveys before and after the intervention. Eligibility requires children to score above the 90th percentile on the Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory using Norwegian norms, and excludes families with severe developmental delay, autism spectrum disorder, or inability to understand Norwegian. The iiP program targets parenting practices, emotion regulation, parent‑child relationship quality, and parental attributions through group sessions. Study sites are multiple child and adolescent mental health outpatient clinics in Norway and outcomes focus on child problem behaviors and parent-reported practices.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are parents of 6–12‑year‑old children referred to outpatient mental health clinics for behavioral problems whose child scores above the 90th percentile on the ECBI and who can participate in Norwegian group sessions.

Not a fit: Children or parents with severe developmental delay, autism spectrum disorder, inability to understand Norwegian, or who are unlikely to benefit from group therapy may not gain from this program.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, iiP could reduce children's disruptive behaviors and improve parenting skills and family relationships, potentially decreasing the need for more intensive services.

How similar studies have performed: Other parent‑training programs such as PCIT and Triple P have shown success reducing disruptive child behavior, so iiP builds on established approaches though the specific program is newer.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Parents of children between 6-12 years of age referred to out-patient clinics for treatment of behavioural problems.
* Children scoring above a pre-defined mean cut off score (over the 90 percentile) on the Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory (ECBI; Eyberg \& Ross, 1978) based on Norwegian norms (Reedtz et al., 2008), as reported by parents.

Exclusion Criteria:

\- Severe developmental delay (in children or parents), autism spectrum disorder, inability to understand Norwegian, or other reasons why the parent(s) are not expected to benefit from group therapy.

Where this trial is running

Bergen and 3 other locations

• Haukeland university hospital, department of mental health care for children and adolescents — Bergen, Norway (RECRUITING)
• Helse Fonna HF, BUP Stord — Haugesund, Norway (NOT_YET_RECRUITING)
• Helse Nord-Trøndelag HF, Barne- og ungdomspsykiatrisk avdeling (BUP) — Namsos, Norway (ENROLLING_BY_INVITATION)
• OUS/PHA/BUPA/BUP Oslo Nord — Oslo, Norway (NOT_YET_RECRUITING)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Lene-Mari P. Rasmussen, Ph.d — UiT The Arctic University of Norway
• Study coordinator: Kurt Henrik Dalmo, Ph.d.

Conditions: Problem Behavior, Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders, parent intervention, parent practices, emotion regulation, parent-child relationship, parental attributions