Minimising Young Children’s Anxiety Through Schools (MY-CATS): a cluster randomised controlled trial
Anxiety disorders
Schools will be randomised to the intervention or usual school practice arm in a 1:1 ratio stratified according to school-demographic information. An independent statistician will conduct randomisation via a computer-generated algorithm. Schools will be randomised on block, after screening, participant enrolment and baseline assessments have been completed in a cohort of schools. The statistician will pass the allocation to the Trial Manager who will assign schools to arms. Assessment points for both arms will be: screening, baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks and 12-months post-randomisation. Intervention arm: Parents/carers of children identified as ‘at risk’ for developing anxiety problems in schools randomised to the intervention arm will work through OSI (Online Support and Intervention for Child Anxiety). OSI is an online version of an evidence-based parent-guided Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) intervention for child anxiety, and the content has been adapted for parents of children aged 4-7 years who are at risk of anxiety disorders. Parents work through seven online modules (one module per week), with each supported by a brief (15 – 20 minute) telephone session with a Children’s Wellbeing Practitioner, and a follow-up review 4 weeks after the intervention is complete. There is also an accompanying mobile game app for the child designed to help motivate the child to face their fears. Usual school practice arm: Parents/carers of children identified as ‘at risk’ for developing anxiety problems in schools randomised to the usual school practice arm will continue to receive any usual support available in their school. At the end of the trial (after 12-month follow-up), parents/carers will receive PDF versions of the online intervention.
1. Schools: mainstream infant/primary school in England, with a minimum of two classes per target year. 2. Screening: child in Reception, Year 1 or Year 2 in a participating school (aged 4-7 years). One parent/carer will complete screening questionnaires for each child. 3. Trial: child screens positive on child anxiety symptoms, and/or behavioural inhibition, and/or parent/carer anxiety symptoms. 4. Qualitative interviews: parents/carers who take part in screening, school staff in participating schools and children of parents/carers who take part in the intervention
1. Parent/carer does not have sufficient use of English to provide consent, complete measures and/or take part in the intervention 2. Parent/carer does not have frequent access to the internet, either at home or elsewhere