Digital Single Session Intervention for Youth Mental Health
Anxiety, Depression, Conduct Disorder
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Anxiety
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Youth/family has contacted a participating Boston area outpatient clinic to seek mental health care, and is placed on the waitlist.
- Youth is between the ages of 9-17 years (inclusive) at the time of study enrollment.
- Youth and at least one guardian consent to the youth's participation in study.
- Youth reads English well enough to effectively complete the digital programs (defined as taking classes in English, as opposed to ESL classes).
- Youth has access to a digital device.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Youth is non-English speaking, as the program is only available in English.
- Youth does not have access to a digital device.
Sites / Locations
- Riley Child Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences ClinicRecruiting
- Boston Child Study CenterRecruiting
- The Baker Center for Children and FamiliesRecruiting
- The Concord CenterRecruiting
- Riverside Community Care
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Other
Practicing the Opposite (PTO) intervention
Usual waitlist control group
This 30-45 minutes Qualtrics-based, digital program uses stories, interactive activities, and engaging graphics to teach youths one core principle: by practicing the positive opposite of unhelpful behaviors (e.g., engaging with rather than avoiding feared stimuli), one can, over time, change their mood, thoughts, and actions. The intervention is comprised of four main sections: 1) An introduction to PTO; (2) Testimonials from young people who have been helped by PTO; (3) Learning how to Practice the Opposite through online activities. (4) Planning how to continue to Practice the Opposite in the participant's life. Of note, after being removed from the waitlist at the clinic and contacted to begin treatment, participants will still receive treatment as usual from the clinic.
Usual waitlist procedures involve watchful waiting for a therapist to become available, sometimes complemented by periodic check-ins from the family with clinic administrators. After being removed from the waitlist and contacted to begin treatment, participants in both study conditions will receive treatment as usual in the clinic.