Children Affected by Rare Disease and Their Families Network (CARE-FAM-NET)
Rare Diseases
About this trial
This is an interventional supportive care trial for Rare Diseases focused on measuring rare disease, children and adolescents, e-mental health, early detection and early treatment of mental disorders
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Family with at least one child between 0 and 21 years with a rare disease or a suspected rare disease.
- Consent to participate in the study.
- Sufficient knowledge of the German language of parents and children.
- Insured at the participating insurance companies.
Exclusion Criteria: Severe psychiatric disorders and impairments with acute symptoms such as suicidal tendencies, severe depression, addictions, acute psychotic symptoms etc., which will not be sufficiently supplied by this new low-frequency intervention. Children and parents with acute treatment demand in the control group will be placed at psychotherapists. Nevertheless, they stay in the control group.
Sites / Locations
- Medical Center Klinikum Augsburg, Kinderklinik Augsburg, l. Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendliche
- University Medical Center Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin
- Medical Center DRK Kliniken Berlin Westend, Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin
- Medical Center Evangelisches Klinikum Bethel, Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin
- University Medical Center Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin
- University Medical Center Universitätsklinik Köln, Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin
- University Medical Center Universitätsklinikum Essen, Kinderklinik I, Neuropädiatrie
- University Medical Center Universitätsklinikum Freiburg, Zentrum für Allgemeine Kinder- und Jugendmedizin, Klinik l
- University Medical Center Universitätsklinikum Gießen und Marburg GmbH, Standort Gießen, Kinderklinik, Abteilung für Kinderneurologie, Sozialpädiatrie u. Epileptologie
- University Medical Center Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin
- University Medical Center Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin
- University Medical Center Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Klinik für Pädiatrische Nieren-, Leber- und Stoffwechselerkrankungen
- University Medical Center Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes, Homburg, Klinik für Allgemeine Pädiatrie und Neonatologie
- University Medical Center Universitätsklinik Jena, Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin
- University Medical Center Universitätsmedizin Leipzig, Universitätskinderklinik
- University Medical Center Universitätsklinikum Münster, Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin
- University Medical Center Universitätsmedizin Rostock, Kinder- und Jugendklinik
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Arm 3
Arm 4
Experimental
Experimental
Experimental
No Intervention
CARE-FAM
WEP-CARE
CARE-FAM + WEP-CARE
Treatment as usual
The face-to-face intervention CARE-FAM is a family-based intervention for the diagnostic, early detection and early treatment of mental health issues of children affected by rare diseases, their siblings and their parents. CARE-FAM is a brief low-frequency intervention comprising six to eight sessions per family over a period of six months. Following a preliminary talk, 2 sessions with the parents, 1 session with each affected child and each sibling and 3 sessions with the whole family will take place. This low-frequency approach (sessions every 2 to 3 weeks) allows families to integrate the intervention into their daily life. Upon request, the sessions will take place at the family's home (home-treatment).
The online intervention WEP-CARE addresses parents of children and adolescents affected by rare diseases. The program is based on principles of cognitive-behavioral writing therapy. Supported by trained professionals, the participants perform 12 standardized writing tasks on a secured internet platform. The 12 writing tasks will be conducted with a weekly frequency and participants will receive personalized feedback. WEP-CARE aims at enhancing mental health problems and the coping strategies of the family.
The families will receive both the face-to-face intervention CARE-FAM and the online intervention WEP-CARE.
The treatment as usual implies that families of the control group receive the treatment that is customary in regular care. Thus, these families normally don't receive any post-treatment. If, however, a member of a control group family appears to have an urgent need for treatment (every family receives a comprehensive diagnostic investigation at the beginning of the study), the respective family will be placed in the ambulatory care system.