CompletedNot Applicable

Qualitative Evaluation of Therapeutic Alliance in Adolescent Psychiatry

France129 participantsStarted 2016-01-01

Plain-language summary

Context: Psychiatric disorders (anorexia nervosa, depression, anxiety based school refusal) are a major public health concern in adolescence. Their treatment is a challenge for the families, the health care system and society. The treatment is complex and non-standardized. In clinical practice, the relational dimension between the stakeholders is recognized by all. Nevertheless no study has ever crossed their perspectives about therapeutic alliance in adolescent psychiatry. Objective: to explore, within a qualitative approach, how a therapeutic alliance is established in three different clinical situations according to the adolescents, their parents and their physicians by crossing their perspectives. Methods: This is a national (France) multi-center qualitative study based on 180 semi-structured interviews. Participants (purposively selected until data saturation) came from three different sub-samples: (i) adolescents with anorexia nervosa (N =20) plus their parents (N=20) and their physicians (N=20), (ii) adolescents with depressions (N=20) plus their parents (N=20) and their physicians (N=20), and (iii) adolescents with anxiety-based school refusal (N=20) plus their parents (N=20) and their physicians (N=20). Data are collected through open ended semi structured interviews and independently analyzed with NVivo V.11 software by three researchers according to the principles of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis.

Who can participate

Age range

12 Years – 18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion criteria

. refusal to attend school (to operationalize this first criterion, adolescents were included if they had not attended school at all for at least one month before starting treatment); (2) presence of a DSM-5 anxiety disorder (except obsessive-compulsive or post-traumatic stress disorders) with emotional upset at the prospect of attending school; (3) absence of a DSM-5 conduct disorder; and (4) parental knowledge of the adolescent's whereabouts during the period of non-attendance.

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

to describe the facilitators of therapeutic alliance within adolescent psychiatry using a qualitative approach

Timeframe: 2 years

Trial details

NCT IDNCT03288649

SponsorCentre Hospitalier Victor Dupouy

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeOBSERVATIONAL

Primary completion2019-12-31

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Anorexia Nervosa trials