Parent-led programs to help teens with anxiety

Testing a Novel Parent-Based Treatment for Adolescent Anxiety Disorders

This study tests whether a parent-only program called SPACE helps adolescents with anxiety more than a parent education program (PES) by comparing symptoms before, after, and at follow-up across 12 sessions.

Quick facts

• Phase: Not applicable
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 108 (estimated)
• Ages: 14 Years to 17 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Yale University (Academic / other)
• Locations: 1 site (New Haven, Connecticut)
• Trial ID: NCT07219992 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This randomized controlled trial assigns families to one of two parent-based interventions (SPACE or PES) delivered in 12 weekly sessions with a mid-treatment and post-treatment assessment plus a follow-up. Primary outcome measures are adolescent anxiety symptoms collected via questionnaires and clinical interviews, and secondary outcomes include family accommodation and overall family functioning. Sessions may be attended in person or via Zoom, and parents are the direct recipients of the interventions while adolescents are assessed for symptom change. The trial excludes adolescents with more impairing comorbid disorders and requires a willing, eligible participating parent.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adolescents who meet DSM-5 criteria for a primary anxiety disorder, have an eligible and willing participating parent, are not undergoing other psychosocial treatments, and are either medication-free or on a stable dose of stimulants or SSRIs.

Not a fit: Teens with more impairing comorbid disorders (e.g., autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, bipolar disorder, psychotic disorders), those without a participating parent, or those requiring changes to psychotropic medication are unlikely to benefit from this protocol.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could reduce adolescent anxiety by changing parent behaviors and improve family functioning without directly treating the teen.

How similar studies have performed: Prior research on SPACE has shown promising results for reducing child and adolescent anxiety when delivered to parents, though direct head-to-head comparisons with PES are limited.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Meet criteria for a primary DSM-5 AD, including separation anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, specific phobia, panic disorder, and agoraphobia (determined by the ADIS-C/P).
* Cease all other psychosocial treatment, upon consultation with the project staff and service provider.
* Not currently use any psychotropic medication, other than a stable dose (i.e., same dose for a minimum of 6 months prior to enrollment; no changes during course of the study) of a stimulant medication or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI).
* Have an eligible and willing participating parent (see parent exclusions below).

Exclusion Criteria:

Adolescent:

* Meet criteria for any DSM-5 disorder more impairing than the most impairing AD (determined by the ADIS-C/P).
* Have any of the following disorders: autism spectrum disorder; intellectual disability; neurocognitive disorders; bipolar disorder; schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders; and alcohol and substance use disorders (determined by the Health History Form and ADIS-C/P).
* Report a suicide attempt in the last 3 months, or current suicide intent and plans (determined by the ASQ).
* Be a victim of past or present undisclosed abuse requiring investigation or ongoing supervision by the Department of Social Services.
* Not have sufficient proficiency with the English language to complete assessments.

Parents:

* Have any of the following: intellectual disability; neurocognitive disorders; untreated bipolar disorder; untreated schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders; and untreated alcohol and substance use disorders (determined by the Health History Form).
* Not be living with the adolescent at least 50% of the time for at least one year prior to enrollment.
* Not have sufficient proficiency with the English language to complete assessments and treatment.

Where this trial is running

New Haven, Connecticut

• Yale Child Study Center — New Haven, Connecticut, United States (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Rebecca Etkin, PhD — Yale University
• Study coordinator: Rebecca Etkin, PhD

Conditions Anxiety Disorder of Adolescence