An interventional study of Family Based, Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Bibliotherapy, low therapist contact SPACE in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in Children, Anxiety Disorder of Childhood and Social Anxiety Disorder of Childhood, sponsored by Baylor College of Medicine. Active, not recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 7 Years to 13 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-02.
Sponsored by Baylor College of Medicine · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
Anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders are among the most common in children. Although cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an effective and evidence-based treatment for such disorders, access to CBT is often limited. Family-based and internet-delivered therapy is one method to increase access to care. The purpose of this project is to evaluate the comparative efficacy and treatment mechanisms of two lower-intensity but effective treatments for families of children with anxiety or obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) via telehealth compared to an adapted Relaxation and Mentorship Training (RMT) intervention involving breathing exercises with a therapist.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for anxiety, yet access to CBT is limited for most families due to the cost, practicalities of attending in-person treatment sessions, and limited availability of trained therapists. Low-intensity telehealth delivery of services is a promising method to improve access to care for youth with anxiety and their families, givens its reachability to a wider range of areas (e.g., rural/underserved) and its ability to minimize practical barriers (e.g., treatment could be delivered to home without need for travel), and reduce stigma (e.g., parents do not need to visit mental health clinics). Additionally, parent-involved treatments for youth anxiety are effective and have the potential to reach more children and adolescents who refuse to see a therapist. However, these interventions have not been widely evaluated. The goal of this project is to evaluate the comparative efficacy and treatment mechanisms of two lower-intensity but effective treatments for families of children with anxiety or obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) via telehealth compared to an adapted Relaxation and Mentorship Training (RMT) intervention involving breathing exercises with a therapist. This study involves two CBT-based intervention groups, both of which have demonstrated efficacy in prior work: 1) a parent-led, therapist-supported Internet based CBT intervention (iCBT) and 2) parent training paired with bibliotherapy intervention (SPACE).
Exclusion Criteria:
One third of participants will be randomized to receive iCBT. Each week of treatment, the parent will be encouraged to read the corresponding materials on the Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) webpage, complete accompanying worksheets, and guide their child through completing activities in the child-facing materials, with support from a therapist (6 30-minute supportive videoconferencing via Zoom, 6 emails on alternating weeks). One core aspect of treatment will be parents leading their child through graduated exposure. Exposures, a hallmark of CBT for anxiety, are used to gradually and repeatedly confront feared stimuli. For example, exposure therapy for a child fearful of dogs may begin with looking at pictures of dogs and standing across the park from a dog on a leash, to eventually petting a dog. All relevant information regarding parent-led exposures will be detailed in the treatment materials, and therapists will review with parents via email and/or video-conferencing sessions.
Behavioral: Family Based, Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
One third of participants will be randomized to the SPACE group. Families will receive 4 45-minute supportive video calls with a therapist over the course of 12-14 weeks. Participating families will receive a copy of the book 'Breaking Free of Child Anxiety and OCD' to use at home and in session with the therapist. During each of the video-conferencing sessions, therapists will serve to provide encouragement and support as the parent works through the program independently.
Behavioral: Bibliotherapy, low therapist contact SPACE
One third of participants will be randomized to receive a Relaxation and Mentorship. This involves attending 4 45-minute sessions with a therapist over the course of 12-14 weeks. Topics covered include breathing slowly and deeply, coloring activities, and releasing muscle tension to reduce stress levels.
Other: Relaxation and Mentorship
Family-based cognitive behavioral therapy employing internet-delivered modules and videos
Parent-based bibliotherapy for treating anxiety disorders in youth
Relaxation based treatment
Change in clinician-rated child anxiety severity throughout the past week.
Each item is scored on a 0 to 5 scale (higher scores correspond to greater severity), yielding a total between 0 and 30.
Time frame: baseline (before treatment), during treatment (on average 14 weeks), post-treatment (last week of treatment), 1 month follow up
Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule (ADIS-IV) with Clinical Severity Ratings
Clinician-rated diagnostic interview that includes current anxiety disorders, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and related disorders. Each diagnostic category is coded as present or absent based on symptom criteria and clinical severity ratings (CSRs), which indicate the level of clinical interference. CSRs are scored on a 0-8 scale (0 = not at all; 8 = very, very much). CSRs of 4 or above indicate the clinical levels.
Time frame: baseline (before treatment), during treatment (on average 14 weeks), post-treatment (last week of treatment), 1 month follow up
Clinical Global Impression-Severity
Clinician-rated child psychopathology severity rating. A single item is scored 0-6 (0= no illness; 6= extremely severe symptoms).
Time frame: baseline (before treatment), during treatment (on average 14 weeks), post-treatment (last week of treatment), 1 month follow up
Plan to share: No
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This study is active, not recruiting, as verified in Aug 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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