Short-term therapy for preschoolers with anxiety disorders

The Bio-psycho-social Effects of a Novel Form of Psychotherapy for Preschool Children Suffering From Anxiety Disorders: a Comparison of Short-term Play Therapy, Dyadic Therapy and Controls

NA · Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya · NCT04978844

This study tests whether a new short-term play therapy or a different type of therapy can help preschoolers with anxiety feel better compared to those who don’t receive any therapy.

Quick facts

PhaseNA
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment40 (estimated)
Ages3 Years to 6 Years
SexAll
SponsorInterdisciplinary Center Herzliya (other)
Locations1 site (Herzliya, Select A State Or Province)
Trial IDNCT04978844 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study involves three groups of preschool children diagnosed with anxiety disorders, totaling 40 participants. One group will receive a novel short-term dynamic play therapy, another will undergo dyadic therapy, while the control group will not receive any therapy. The children will be assessed for anxiety, depression, and behavioral problems using standardized instruments, and physiological measures such as cortisol and oxytocin levels will be evaluated through saliva sampling. The study aims to understand the efficacy of these interventions over a six-month period with bi-monthly assessments.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are preschool-aged children diagnosed with anxiety disorders who are admitted to the early childhood clinic.

Not a fit: Children who do not live with their parents or guardians may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this therapy could significantly reduce anxiety symptoms in preschoolers, improving their emotional well-being and developmental outcomes.

How similar studies have performed: While there is ongoing research in childhood anxiety treatments, this specific approach combining dynamic play therapy and dyadic interventions is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

All consecutive admission to the early childhood clinic at the IDC Herzliya

Exclusion Criteria:

Parents and children not living in the same household

Where this trial is running

Herzliya, Select A State Or Province

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Childhood Anxiety Disorder

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.