RecruitingNot Applicable

Emotion Focused Family Therapy for Parents of Children With Mental Health Difficulties

Canada200 participantsStarted 2022-10-11

Plain-language summary

Emotion Focused Family Therapy (EFFT) is a promising intervention that aims to teach parents advanced skills to support their child's development of emotion skills and increase their adaptive behaviours, potentially leading to improvements in their child's psychological functioning and family functioning more broadly. This randomized controlled trial (RCT; EFFT vs waitlist control) will (1) test the efficacy of a 6-week group EFFT program on parent and child outcomes and (2) examine maintenance of treatment gains up to four months post-intervention.

Who can participate

Age range

7 Years – 15 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: * Parent of child aged 7 to 15 years old with anxiety, depression, or behavioural challenges * Parent of child is willing to participate in intervention * Parent is living at home with the child Exclusion Criteria: * Parent or child not proficient enough in speaking/understanding English to complete measures or EFFT intervention components * Parent or child with a severe mental health disorder (e.g., active suicidality and psychosis) is not considered suitable for the trial intervention due to the clinical need for immediate intervention * Parent or child is actively receiving, or due to receive, intensive psychological intervention focused on cognitive and/or behavioural strategies to intervene with emotional or behavioural difficulties * Parent or child has any disabilities in language, speech or hearing that would interfere with their completion of the EFFT and measures * Parent or child are allergic to adhesive electrode gel use in some tasks (i.e., sodium chloride)

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

Change in parental psychopathology symptoms at 6 weeks and 4 months

Timeframe: Change at 6 weeks; Change at 4 months

Change in child psychopathology symptoms at 6 weeks and 4 months

Timeframe: Change at 6 weeks; Change at 4 months

Change in parental emotion regulation at 6 weeks and 4 months

Timeframe: Change at 6 weeks; Change at 4 months

Change in child emotion regulation at 6 weeks and 4 months

Timeframe: Change at 6 weeks; Change at 4 months

Change in parent-child co-regulation at 6 weeks and 4 months

Timeframe: Change at 6 weeks; Change at 4 months

Change in parent-child relationship functioning at 6 weeks and 4 months

Timeframe: Change at 6 weeks; Change at 4 months

Trial details

NCT IDNCT05603000

SponsorUniversity of Guelph

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2027-03

Contact for this trial

Kristel Thomassin, Ph.D

519-824-4120 kristel.thomassin@uoguelph.ca

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Anxiety trials

Plain-language summary

Who can participate

Age range

7 Years – 15 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.

What they're measuring

Change in parental psychopathology symptoms at 6 weeks and 4 months

Timeframe: Change at 6 weeks; Change at 4 months

Change in child psychopathology symptoms at 6 weeks and 4 months

Timeframe: Change at 6 weeks; Change at 4 months

Change in parental emotion regulation at 6 weeks and 4 months

Timeframe: Change at 6 weeks; Change at 4 months

Change in child emotion regulation at 6 weeks and 4 months

Timeframe: Change at 6 weeks; Change at 4 months

Change in parent-child co-regulation at 6 weeks and 4 months

Timeframe: Change at 6 weeks; Change at 4 months

Change in parent-child relationship functioning at 6 weeks and 4 months

Timeframe: Change at 6 weeks; Change at 4 months