Training therapists in an executive functioning intervention for children's mental health

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This project aims to evaluate the effectiveness of training mental health therapists in the Unstuck and On Target (UOT) intervention, which is designed to improve executive functioning in children, particularly those with autism spectrum disorder. The study will compare the clinical outcomes of UOT with the Unified Protocol for Children, a transdiagnostic intervention for emotional disorders. It will also assess the implementation of UOT in community mental health settings, focusing on its feasibility and the potential for broader application beyond autism. The goal is to enhance mental health services and outcomes for children facing executive functioning challenges.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

Mental Health Programs:

* Publicly-funded
* Providing outpatient or school-based psychotherapy services to children
* Have at least 8 mental health providers on staff

Therapists:

* Employed as staff or trainee at a participating program
* Employed at the program for at least the next 12 months
* Providing psychotherapy services to children
* Has an eligible child on current caseload (see below)

Autistic Child/Caregiver Participants (enrolled in a dyad with a participating therapist):

* Child age 6-12 years
* Receiving services from an enrolled therapist
* Documented or suspected\* autism diagnosis

  * In the event of suspected autism diagnosis, the presence of elevated autism symptoms on the Social Responsiveness Scale-2nd Edition or the Autism Diagnostic Observation Scale-2nd Edition

Non-Autistic Child/Caregiver Participants (enrolled in a dyad with a participating therapist):

* Child age 6-12 years
* Receiving services from an enrolled provider
* No history of documented or suspected autism diagnosis

Where it's running

• San Diego State University
  San Diego, California, United States Recruiting
• University of Colorado - Anschutz
  Aurora, Colorado, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Kelsey S Dickson, PhD
• Email: kdickson@sdsu.edu
• Phone: 858-966-7703

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.