Social Competence Training for Adolescents With Borderline Intellectual Functioning

Study Overview
=================
Brief Summary
-----------------
Emotional and behavioural problems as well as a lack of social competence are supposed to be common phenomena in adolescents with borderline intellectual functioning, consequently impairing their social and vocational integration. Considering the lack of evaluated group interventions for this population, a cognitive-behavioural training is developed and its effectiveness is examined in a population of students attending special vocational schools. 77 adolescents with borderline intelligence are enrolled participated in the study. They are randomized either to the intervention group, who received 9 group sessions over a period of 3 months additionally to the standard vocational training (Social Competence Training for Adolescents with Borderline Intelligence, SCT-ABI) or to the control group who received only the standard vocational training. Outcome measures at the end of the intervention and at a 6-months follow-up assessment comprise self-reports, caregiver-reports, and behavioural observations of cognitive, emotional, and behavioural factors of social competence.

Official Title
-----------------
A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Social Competence Group Training for Adolescents With Borderline Intellectual Functioning

Conditions
-----------------
Mental Disorders

Intervention / Treatment
-----------------
* Behavioral: Social competence training
* Behavioral: Special vocational training


Participation Criteria
=================
Eligibility Criteria
-----------------
Inclusion Criteria: age 16 - 23 years participating in special vocational training program elevated scores in a screening measure of behavioral/emotional disorders (CBCL or YSR T>59) Exclusion Criteria: major psychiatric disorder (psychosis, major depression, substance abuse)

Ages Eligible for Study
-----------------
Minimum Age: 16 Years
Maximum Age: 23 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
-----------------
All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
-----------------
No

Study Plan
=================
How is the study designed?
-----------------

Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: A<br>8 group sessions social competence training (CBT) | Behavioral: Social competence training<br>* 8 group sessions multi-modal social competence training, 2-4 hours each, 2 trainers, 6-10 participants<br>|
| Active Comparator: B<br>special vocational training as usual | Behavioral: Special vocational training<br>* as provided in German special centres for vocational training<br>|

What is the study measuring?
-----------------
Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |

 Terms related to the study
=================
Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
-----------------
adolescents, borderline intellectual functioning, social competence training, vocational training, group intervention, cognitive behavioral therapy, Adolescents with borderline intellectual functioning