An interventional study of YourSkills: Cognitive behavioral therapy for children/youth with role-plays in virtual reality in Child Behavior Problem, Disruptive Behavior and Oppositional Defiant Disorder, sponsored by Karolinska Institutet. Completed at 1 site in Sweden. Open to participants aged 10 Years to 16 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-18.
Sponsored by Karolinska Institutet · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
The main aim of this small pilot trial is to evaluate preliminary effects and feasibility of the child intervention YourSkills for child disruptive behavior (e.g., enhanced anger or aggressive behavior) when evaluated in Sweden for children/youth aged 10-16 years. YourSkills is based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and includes practicing of skills in virtual reality (VR).
The main questions the project aims to answer are:
The CBT-VR program is delivered at clinics during ten individual sessions. Parents will answer quantitative measurements before and after treatment, children will answer quantitative measurements before, during and after treatment. Within- group analyses will be conducted to examine experiences and preliminary effects of the program. Parents, children and clinicians are also asked to participate in a qualitative interview after the program has ended.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for children with behavior problems often include anger management training, social skills training, and problem-solving training. These have been shown to reduce anger and aggressive behaviors with small to moderate effects.
In a study in the Netherlands, the CBT-VR treatment program YourSkills was developed and evaluated for boys with aggressive behavior aged 8-13 years. The treatment builds on CBT and includes brief role-plays conducted in virtual reality (VR). VR can provide a safe and gradual platform to practice.
PURPOSE AND RESEARCH QUESTIONS:
The aim of the pilot study is to evaluate preliminary effects and feasibility of the CBT-VR program YourSkills in Sweden for children/youth aged 10-16. The specific research questions are as follows:
METHODS:
This project consists of a small pilot study of the CBT-based program YourSkills.
In the present project we target children/youth aged 10-16 years (n=10 families). The design is based on a mixed-methods approach. Evaluation of the intervention is conducted using within-group design (repeated measurements before, during, and after the intervention).
Families will be recruited through clinics and advertisements. They are directed to a webpage with information about the study and contact information to the researchers. Families provide informed consent to participate. Upon a participant expressing interest of the study, a member of the research team will contact the participant for a screening of inclusion and exclusion criteria.
The treatment is evaluated quantitatively by parents and children, using validated assessment scales before and after treatment, and by children with single questions before, during, and after the intervention. Additionally, qualitative interviews will be conducted with participants who consent to participate in an interview. Interviews will be recorded and transcribed. Clinicians at the clinics are invited to answer questions regarding their experiences of delivering the program.
In another separate pilot study we evaluate parent training with role-plays in virtual reality: "Pilot study of parent training with role-plays in virtual reality for parents of children with behavior problems".
POWER CALCULATION:
The quantitative and qualitative data that will be collected for ten families is considered sufficient to provide understanding and preliminary insight into acceptability, usability, relevance, and effectiveness.
ANALYSES:
The plan is to compare changes during the intervention using paired t-tests, descriptive statistics, description of reliable and clinical change, and calculation of effect sizes. If appropriate, non-parametric alternatives will be employed. The qualitative analyses will be conducted using content analysis or thematic analysis.
178 studies on the registry are indexed under Problem Behavior; 47 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 10 is below the median of 90 across 165 interventional studies indexed under Problem Behavior.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Child/youth cognitive-behavioral program with up to 10 individual, face-to-face, weekly sessions
Behavioral: YourSkills: Cognitive behavioral therapy for children/youth with role-plays in virtual reality
A program for children/youth with anger problems or aggressive behaviors based on social learning theory and cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), incorporating virtual reality (VR) when conducting brief role-plays. The program includes similar strategies as other CBT-oriented programs for anger problems, with the addition of VR for practicing skills.
Parent: Mean change from baseline in behavior problems on parent-ratings of the Disruptive Behavior Disorder scale (oppositional defiant disorder subscale).
The oppositional defiant disorder subscale of the Disruptive Behavior Disorder scale is used for assessing children's behavioral problems. The subscale includes 8 items which are rated on a 4-point scale (0 to 3). The total scale sum ranges från 0 to a total maximum sum of 24 with a higher score indicating more behavior problems.
Time frame: Pre- and post-intervention (10 weeks after the initiation of the intervention)
Child/youth: Mean change from baseline in child-ratings of anger on the Anger Expression Scale for children
The Anger expression scale for children includes 26 questions about anger and anger management and is rated by children on a 4-point Likert scale (from 1 to 4). We use two modified sub-scales: anger expression (score ranges from 17 to 68) and anger control (score ranges from 9 to 36) with higher scores indicating higher levels of anger expression and anger control.
Time frame: Pre- and post-intervention (10 weeks after the initiation of the intervention)
Parent: Mean change from baseline in parent-ratings of child wellbeing on the KIDSCREEN-10
The KIDSCREEN has 10 items and evaluates how parents perceive the health and well-being of their child or adolescent. The items are scored on a 5-point scale (1-5). A total maximum sum ranges between 10 and 50, and a higher score indicates greater child wellbeing and health-related quality of life. The scale also includes an overall question about how the child is feeling in general.
Time frame: Pre- and post-intervention (10 weeks after the initiation of the intervention)
Parent: Mean change from baseline in parent-ratings of child wellbeing on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)
The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) assesses mental health through five subscales (peer relationship problems, prosocial behavior, emotional symptoms, hyperactivity/ inattention, conduct problems) and a total difficulties score. The items are scored on a 3-point scale (0 to 2), and the total difficulties score is generated by summing all subscales except the prosocial scale. The summary score ranges from 0 to 40 where higher summary scores indicate more problems.
Time frame: Pre- and post-intervention (10 weeks after the initiation of the intervention)
Parent: Mean change from baseline in parent-ratings of emotion regulation on the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (brief version)
Parents' general emotion regulation ability will be measured with the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale-16. The 16 items are scored on a 5-point scale (1 to 5). The total summary score ranges between 16 and 80, a higher score indicating larger difficulties with emotion regulation.
Time frame: Pre- and post-intervention (10 weeks after the initiation of the intervention)
Parent: Mean change from baseline in parent-ratings of parental emotion regulation on the Parent Emotion Regulation Scale
Parental emotion regulation will be measured with Parent Emotion Regulation Scale. The 20 items are scored on a 5-point scale (1 to 5). A total summary score ranges between 20 and 100, with a higher score indicating better regulation of emotions.
Time frame: Pre- and post-intervention (10 weeks after the initiation of the intervention)
Parent: Mean change in parent-ratings of family warmth
Family warmth is measured with 5 questions from the Family Check-Up Caregiver Assessment Scale. The items are scored on a 5-point scale (1 to 5). Total maximum score ranges between 5 and 25. A higher score indicates a more positive relation.
Time frame: Pre- and post-intervention (10 weeks after the initiation of the intervention)
Parent: Mean change in parent-ratings of family conflicts
Three questions from the Family Check-Up Caregiver Assessment Scale are used to measure family conflicts. The items are scored on a 7-point scale (0 to 6), with total maximum score ranging between 0 and 18. A higher score indicates larger degree of conflicts.
Time frame: Pre- and post-intervention (10 weeks after the initiation of the intervention)
Parent: Mean change from baseline in parenting on parent-ratings of the Parenting Children and Adolescents Scale
The three sub-scales of the Parenting Children and Adolescents Scale are Encouragement of positive behaviors; Setting limits; Proactive parenting behaviors. The 21 items are scored on a 5-point scale (1 to 5). The total scale sum ranges from 21 to a maximum of 105. A higher score indicates more positive parenting behaviors.
Time frame: Pre- and post-intervention (10 weeks after the initiation of the intervention)
Parent: Mean change from baseline in parenting on parent-ratings of the Parenting Children and Adolescents Scale: Impact scale
For each of the 21 items of the Parenting Children and Adolescents Scale the parent also indicates whether the item is experienced as a problem (yes/no). Total scale sum ranges between 0 and 21, with a higher sum indicating more problems and impact.
Time frame: Pre- and post-intervention (10 weeks after the initiation of the intervention)
Child/youth: Mean change from baseline in child-ratings of child wellbeing on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire
Child-ratings of Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire are used to assess mental health through a total difficulties score as well as through the five subscales (peer relationship problems, prosocial behavior, emotional symptoms, hyperactivity/inattention, conduct problems). The items are scored on a 3-point scale (0 to 2), and the total difficulties score is generated by summing all subscales except the prosocial scale. The summary score ranges from 0 to 40 where higher summary scores indicate more severe problems.
Time frame: From pre- to post-intervention (measured after 10 weeks)
Child/youth: Mean change from baseline in child-ratings of child wellbeing on the KIDSCREEN-10
The instrument evaluates how children perceive their health and well-being. The 10 items are scored on a 5-point scale (1 to 5). The total maximum sum ranges between 10 and 50, with a higher score indicating greater child wellbeing and health- related quality of life. The scale also includes an overall question about how the child is feeling in general.
Time frame: From pre- to post-intervention (measured after 10 weeks)
Child/youth: Satisfaction with the week
One question rated 0-10 measuring satisfaction with the week. Higher levels indicate larger satisfaction.
Time frame: From pre- to post-intervention (during 10 weeks). Completed once a week at the session.
Child/youth: Presence of anger or conflicts
Two questions, each rated 0-10 (maximum score between 0- 20), measuring presence of anger or conflicts. Higher levels indicate larger anger problems/conflicts.
Time frame: From pre- to post-intervention (during 10 weeks). Completed once a week at the session.
Child/youth: Child experiences of each session
Four questions after each session about how the child experienced the sessions and exercises. Rated on a scale 0-10, with a maximum total score ranging between 0 and 40. A higher score indicates greater satisfaction with the session.
Time frame: From pre- to post-intervention (during 10 weeks). Completed once a week at the session
Child/youth: Closing questions about the intervention
Five closing questions about satisfaction, relevance, and usefulness of the intervention. The questions are rated on a 0-10-scale, total score is 50, with higher score indicating larger satisfaction.
Time frame: Post-intervention (10 weeks after the initiation of the intervention)
Clinicians: Clinician perception of treatment implementation
Clinicians conducting treatments will respond to two questions every week about treatment implementation. The questions are rated 0-10 (maximum weekly mean score 20), with higher scores indicating larger satisfaction.
Time frame: From pre- to post-intervention (measured after 10 weeks)
Parent, child/youth, clinician: Experiences of the child/youth program through individual qualitative interviews with parent, youth or clinician
Qualitative interviews will explore parent's, child's/youth's and clinician's experiences of the treatment. We will investigate satisfaction, feasibility, acceptability, and relevance of the programs. The interview with parents is partly based on an established scale, modified for this purpose, and self-constructed questions. Interviews with clinicians and children are based on self-constructed questions examining acceptability, relevance, feasibility and satisfaction.
Time frame: Interviews are conducted after the program is completed, about 10 weeks after the initiation of the program
Use of the child/youth program: number of sessions, homework tasks
A summary of the mean number of sessions and homework tasks completed during the program.
Time frame: From pre- to post-intervention (10 weeks after the initiation of the intervention)
Drop-out rate
The drop out from the program (number of participants)
Time frame: From pre- to post-intervention (10 weeks after the initiation of the intervention)
Background information - parent
Parents are asked for brief demographic information about themselves (e.g., age, education) and their child (e.g. age). A total of 8 questions.
Time frame: Pre-intervention
Background information - child
Children are asked three demographic questions about themselves (e.g., age).
Time frame: Pre-intervention
Plan to share: No
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