Gaze Contingent Feedback for Anxiety Disorders in Children

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to determine whether giving gaze-contingent feedback is an effective attention modification procedure, helping in the treatment of anxiety disorders in children.

Detailed Description
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Attention biases in threat processing have been assigned a prominent role in the etiology and maintenance of anxiety disorders. The purpose of this study is to determine whether giving gaze-contingent feedback is an effective treatment for anxiety disorders in clinically anxious 6-10 year-olds children. Participants will be assessed using clinical interviews and parent- and self-rated questionnaires before and after eight training sessions. Outcome measures will be anxiety symptoms and depression as measured by gold standard questionnaires as well as structured clinical interviews with children and their parents. Attentional threat bias and Attentional control will also be measured to explore potential mediators of ABMT's effect on anxiety.

Official Title
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Gaze-Contingent Music Reward Treatment for Anxiety Disorders in Children: A Case Series

Conditions
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Anxiety Disorders

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Gaze-contingent feedback


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Primary diagnosis of GAD, SOP, or SAD. Co-morbid attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or depressive disorders must be treated with medication and stable. Tics or impulse control problems must be treated with medication, stable and cause minimal or no impairment. Exclusion Criteria: To be excluded youth must: meet diagnostic criteria for Organic Mental Disorders, Psychotic Disorders, Pervasive Developmental Disorders, or Mental Retardation. show high likelihood of hurting themselves or others. have not been living with a primary caregiver who is legally able to give consent for the child's participation. be a victim of previously undisclosed abuse requiring investigation or ongoing supervision. be involved currently in another psycho-social treatment. have a serious vision problem that is not corrected with prescription lenses. have a physical disability that interferes with their ability to click a mouse button rapidly and repeatedly.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 6 Years
Maximum Age: 10 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Gaze-contingent feedback<br>Participants will receive gaze-contingent feedback according to their viewing patterns | Behavioral: Gaze-contingent feedback<br>* Participants will receive gaze-contingent feedback according to their viewing patterns<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change from baseline in anxiety symptoms - the Pediatric Anxiety Rating (PARS) | The PARS assesses global anxiety severity across different anxiety disorders in children | Post treatment (1 week after treatment completion) | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change from baseline in anxiety related emotional disorders symptoms - Child/Parent (the SCARED 41-item) | The SCARED is a 41-item self and parent-report instrument designed to assess anxiety in children. | Post treatment (1 week after treatment completion) | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Attention bias modification treatment, Anxiety disorders, Attention training