An interventional study of Sidekick in Anxiety Disorders, sponsored by Helse Stavanger HF. Recruiting at 2 sites in Norway. Open to participants aged 13 Years to 18 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-04-28.
Sponsored by Helse Stavanger HF · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
The goal of this feasibility study is to test whether a new blended digital intervention for adolescents with anxiety disorders is feasible and acceptable for use, and to help plan future larger scale studies. The main questions it aims to answer are:
Participants will:
Study goals and objectives
This project will investigate the feasibility of an app-facilitated exposure therapy for adolescents with anxiety. The primary objective is to contribute to the development of an efficient and personalized digital treatment. To meet this objective, the project aims i) evaluate the feasibility of Sidekick, a personalized digital treatment tool for patients with anxiety disorders, and ii) evaluate the user experience of digitally assisted exposure therapy on patient-clinician dyads.
1.1 Short-term and long-term goals
In the short-term, this project will implement an open, explorative trial of Sidekick in specialized clinical practice. In the long-term, the project will report, communicate and implement findings in clinical and user settings. If results indicate that the blended intervention is feasible and acceptable, the next step is to seek funding and perform a large-scale, national randomized controlled trials (RCT) of a blended treatment protocol for anxiety in adolescents.
2.1 Study design, choice of methodology and analysis
To meet the goals of this project, the investigators will conduct a single-arm feasibility trial of the app Sidekick in a blended intervention for anxiety disorders in adolescents. The open trial will include data from patients and their clinicians. The study will provide feasibility insights, determining the practicality of implementing the tool within the outpatient clinic. It will highlight usability and acceptance, as well as preliminary effectiveness of the app. User and therapist feedback will give insight into perceived benefits, challenges and suggestions for improvement, allowing for improved therapeutic options for adolescents with anxiety. The feasibility method and outcomes will be guided by Orsmond and Cohn "The Distinctive Features of a Feasibility Study: Objectives and Guiding Questions", and in line with the objectives, outcomes and interpretations of feasibility from Abbott and colleagues. Orsmond and Cohns highlights five objectives (A-E) that will be used as a template for assessing feasibility in our study. Our method for collecting data include questionnaires and user-data in the app from the patients, and qualitative interviews with both patients and clinicians. All outcomes will be reported in line with the CONSORT 2010 statement: extension to randomised pilot and feasibility trials, with adaptations to apply to our non-randomized feasibility trial.
2.1.1. Recruitment
The project aims to recruit 30 adolescents aged 13-18 from child and adolescent mental health services who, along with their clinicians, are willing to participate in the intervention as part of their treatment plan. All patient recruitment will be done in Helse Stavanger. The adolescents will receive gift cards of 250 NOK post assessment, and at 3-month follow-up. The adolescents that participate in qualitative interviews will receive an additional gift card of 250 NOK for their participation. Recruitment is set to begin in August 2025, with expected completion by the summer of 2026.
2.1.3 Procedures
Participants will first undergo a baseline assessment and be given guidance on how to use the Sidekick app to support anxiety exposure therapy. During the study period, all patients will be followed up through regular treatment at the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Unit (BUP), which is usually weekly or bi-weekly. Patient responsibility and readiness will be maintained through this provider relationship as in regular treatment, but patients will also be provided with contact details for research personnel, who can then contact providers for the patients participating in the project. Exposure will mainly take place between treatment sessions, at times chosen by the youth themselves, or in collaboration with their clinician. Participants will undergo a baseline assessment online using the Youwell platform which is authorized for this purpose by Helse Vest. The assessment will be conducted at three timepoints: at baseline, at the end of treatment, and three months post-treatment. The feasibility and preliminary clinical outcomes of the intervention will be evaluated using quantitative methods before, during, and after the treatment. Additionally, qualitative interviews with therapists and patients will be conducted following the treatment to gather in-depth insights.
2.1.4 Interview guide
An interview guide will be used to gather data on participants' experiences, including perceived treatment. The interview guide will be developed in collaboration with users, and the interview is estimated to take 30 minutes to complete. Audio will be recorded using the app "Nettskjemadiktafon", which ensures safe storage of sensitive data. All data will be stored in TSD (in Norwegian, Service for Sensitive Data). The TSD service is designed for storing and post-processing sensitive data in compliance with the Norwegian "Personal Data Act" and "Health Research Act". Audio will be automatically transcribed using the service "Autotekst", and then manually checked by the PhD candidate.
2.1.5 Statistical analysis plan
As a feasibility study, no formal hypothesis testing will be conducted. Descriptive statistics will be used to summarize recruitment rates, retention rates, adherence, and data completeness to assess feasibility outcomes. Confidence intervals will be provided to estimate precision of feasibility parameters. Preliminary outcome measures will be explored to inform sample size calculations and study procedures for a future definitive trial. All analyses will be run using freely or commercially available software (R or SPSS statistics) by the applicant in collaboration with supervisors of the PhD-project. The sample size is based on recommendations for feasibility and pilot studies, recommending a sample size of 30 participants to establish feasibility.
2.1.6 Qualitative analysis plan
Using the NVivo software, qualitative data will be analyzed using thematic analysis to explore therapists' and users' experiences with the Sidekick app. Initial coding will capture key concepts, which will then be grouped into broader themes reflecting the core experiences of both therapists and adolescents. This process will highlight perceptions of the app, including its strengths and areas for improvement. Comparative analysis will contrast the themes from both perspectives to provide a comprehensive understanding of the app's impact and effectiveness in outpatient treatment. The findings will inform app enhancements and implementation strategies to better support therapists and adolescents in these settings.
4,868 studies on the registry are indexed under Anxiety Disorders; 1,390 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 46 is below the median of 80 across 4,174 interventional studies indexed under Anxiety Disorders.
Browse Anxiety Disorders studies →Helse Stavanger HF is the lead sponsor of 93 studies on the registry; 17 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Exclusion Criteria:
Use of the Sidekick app as an ad-on to regular outpatient treatment.
Device: Sidekick
An app for adolescents used to plan, complete and evaluate exposure exercises completed between sessions at a children and adolescent mental health clinic (BUP)
Also known as: App-facilitated exposure therapy, Digital cognitive behavioral therapy, Digital adjunct, Digital ad-on
Sidekick app engagement and completion of tasks
Sidekick app engagement and completion of tasks will be evaluated through assessment of user-data from the app.
Time frame: From pre-treatment/baseline to post-treatment (variable and participant-dependent, estimated range: 4-12 weeks)
Credibility and Expectancy Questionnaire (CEQ-1)
The Credibility and Expectancy Questionnaire (CEQ-1) is a 1-item self-report questionnaire used to assess treatment credibility and treatment expectancy. Minimum score: 1. Maximum score: 9. Higher scores mean better outcomes.
Time frame: At post-treatment (variable and participant-dependent, estimated range: 4-12 weeks post-baseline)
Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ-3)
The Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ-3) is a 3-item self-report measure used clients satisfaction with a service. Minimum score: 1. Maximum score: 4. Higher scores mean better outcomes.
Time frame: At post-treatment (variable and participant-dependent, estimated range: 4-12 weeks post-baseline)
EuroQoL 5D-5L (EQ-5D-5L)
EuroQoL 5D-5L (EQ-5D-5L) is a self-report questionnaire assessing health-related quality of life and cost-effectiveness analysis. It assesses health on five dimensions: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression. Question 1-25: Minimum score: 1. Maximum score: 5. Higher scores mean worse outcomes. Question 26: Minimum score: 0. Maximum score: 100. Higher scores mean better outcomes.
Time frame: At pre-treatment/baseline and post-treatment (variable and participant-dependent, estimated range: 4-12 weeks post-baseline)
Level of anxiety before, during and after exposure tasks
Participants will evaluate their level of anxiety on a sliding bar in the Sidekick app before, during and after every exposure task completed. User-data from the Sidekick app will be collected. Minimum score: 1. Maximum score: 10. Higher scores mean worse outcomes.
Time frame: From pre-treatment/baseline to post-treatment (variable and participant-dependent, estimated range: 4-12 weeks) after every completed exposure task (variable and participant-dependent, estimated range: 1-20 exposure tasks per month)
Recruitment
The investigators will assess recruitment capability and sample characteristics and provide a flow-chart to evaluate feasibility of completing the planned study.
Time frame: At pre-treatment/baseline.
Adherence
The investigators will assess retention and follow-up rates, and adherence to procedures to evaluate feasibility of completing the planned study.
Time frame: From pre-treatment/baseline to post-treatment (variable and participant-dependent, estimated range: 4-12 weeks post-baseline), and from post-treatment to 3-month follow-up.
Qualitative interviews
To evaluate user experiences from both patients and clinicians perspectives taking part in the study.
Time frame: At post-treatment (variable and participant-dependent, estimated range: 4-12 weeks post-baseline).
Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS 47)
The Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS) is a self-report measure of anxiety symptoms for children and adolescents aged 8-18 years old. It has 47 items, and results in subscales of separation anxiety, social phobia, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder and major depressive disorder. The scale provides a total anxiety scale (sum of the 5 anxiety subscales) and a total internalizing scale (sum of all 6 subscales). Minimum score: 10 Maximum score: 3. Higher scores mean worse outcomes.
Time frame: At pre-treatment/baseline, post-treatment (variable and participant-dependent, estimated range: 4-12 weeks post-baseline), and 3-month follow-up.
General self-efficacy scale (GSES)
The General self-efficacy scale (GSES) is a 10-item self-report questionnaire used to measure the respondents perceived self-efficacy. Minimum score: 1. Maximum score: 4. Higher scores mean better outcomes.
Time frame: At pre-treatment/baseline, post-treatment (variable and participant-dependent, estimated range: 4-12 weeks post-baseline), and 3-month follow-up.
KIDSCREEN-10
KIDSCREEN-10 is a 10-item self-report questionnaire for children and adolescents aged 8-18 years old. It measures general health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Minimum score: 1. Maximum score: 5. Higher scores mean better outcomes.
Time frame: At pre-treatment/baseline, post-treatment (variable and participant-dependent, estimated range: 4-12 weeks post-baseline), and 3-month follow-up.
Patient Exposure and Response Prevention Adherence Scale (PEAS)
The Patient Exposure and Response Prevention Adherence Scale (PEAS) is a 3-item self-report questionnaire designed to measure adherence of exposure and response prevention outside of therapy sessions. Minimum score: 0. Maximum score: 7. Higher scores mean better outcomes.
Time frame: From pre-treatment/baseline to post-treatment (variable and participant-dependent, estimated range: 4-12 weeks) after every completed exposure task (variable and participant-dependent, estimated range: 1-20 exposure tasks per month)
Plan to share: No
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Helse Stavanger HF