Effectiveness and Feasibility of Structured EFFT
ConditionEmotion Regulation
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age12-18
SponsorVU University of Amsterdam
About this trial
The goal of this clinical pilot study is to assess effectiveness and feasilibity of structured Emotionally Focused Family Therapy (EFFT) for parents and adolescents.
Participants will fill out questionnaires before, during and after the EFFT treatment Finally, feasibility will be assessed by semi-structured interviews.
Eligibility criteria
This trial does not accept healthy volunteersQualifiers
adolescents aged 12-18 years (the so called 'identified' patient), and
families coping with mild problems.
Disqualifiers
blended families because of the more complex loyalties that exist between children and stepparents,
families of which individual members cope with serious trauma such as sexual and physical abuse and severe neglect, and
families of which the parents or children are diagnosed with severe DSM disorders (substance abuse or psychosis).
Trial design
Design model
Single group
Treatments tested in this trial
Emotionally Focused Family Therapy (EFFT)
BehavioralThe rationale behind EFFT is that mental health problems in children and adolescents often originate and/or are exacerbated by negative interaction patterns rooted in insecure attachment bonds within families. Therefore, the main treatment goal of EFFT is the development of secure attachment between parents and their children.
Treatment groups
15 Participants
are divided into 1 treatment groupGroup A: Emotionally Focused Family Therapy (EFFT)Experimental treatment 1 intervention
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
1
Change from the waiting period in Negative interaction patterns on the Relationship Dynamics Scale (RDS; Stanley et al., 2001) during and after EFFT.
The RDS is a validated self-reported 4 item questionnaire assessing negative interaction patterns over the past 2 weeks. Possible total scores range from 4 (negligible) to 16 (often). Change will be assessed for: the waiting period (pre-treatment score - pre waiting period score), during EFFT (post treatment - pre treatment), during follow up (pre-booster session score - post -treatment score) and over the total study period.
Time frame
Through study completion, an average of 1 year per family: t1 = pre-waiting period; t2 = pre-treatment; t3 = pre-phase 3 (after 5-8 sessions); t4 = post treatment (after 16-21 sessions), t5 = pre-booster session (two months after final session)2
Change from the waiting period in Accessibility and responsiveness of the attachment figures on the Accessibility, Responsiveness, Emotional Engagement questionnaire (ARE; Johnson, 2008).
The ARE is a validated self-reported 6 item questionnaire assessing accessibility and responsiveness of the attachment figures over the past month. Change will be assessed for: the waiting period (pre-treatment score - pre waiting period score), during EFFT (post treatment - pre treatment), during follow up (pre-booster session score - post -treatment score) and over the total study period.
Time frame
Through study completion, an average of 1 year per family: t1 = pre-waiting period; t2 = pre-treatment; t3 = pre-phase 3 (after 5-8 sessions); t4 = post treatment (after 16-21 sessions), t5 = pre-booster session (two months after final session)3
Change from the waiting period in Discipline on the Discipline subscale of the Self-Efficacy for Parenting Tasks Index Toddler Scale (SEPTI; Coleman & Karraker, 2003).
The Discipline 7 item subscale is part of the SEPTI a validated self-reported questionnaire assessing displine of the children by their partners over the past month. Change will be assessed for: the waiting period (pre-treatment score - pre waiting period score), during EFFT (post treatment - pre treatment), during follow up (pre-booster session score - post -treatment score) and over the total study period.
Time frame
Through study completion, an average of 1 year per family: t1 = pre-waiting period; t2 = pre-treatment; t3 = pre-phase 3 (after 5-8 sessions); t4 = post treatment (after 16-21 sessions), t5 = pre-booster session (two months after final session)4
Change from the waiting period in Attachment between parents and adolescent and the parents as partners on the Experiences in Close Relationships - Relationship Structures questionnaire (ECR-RS; Fraley et al., 2011)
The ECR is a validated self-reported 9 item questionnaire assessing Anxiety about rejection and abandonment and Avoidance of intimacy. Change will be assessed for: the waiting period (pre-treatment score - pre waiting period score), during EFFT (post treatment - pre treatment), during follow up (pre-booster session score - post -treatment score) and over the total study period.
Time frame
Through study completion, an average of 1 year per family: t1 = pre-waiting period; t2 = pre-treatment; t3 = pre-phase 3 (after 5-8 sessions); t4 = post treatment (after 16-21 sessions), t5 = pre-booster session (two months after final session)Secondary outcomes
1
Feasibility of structured EFFT.
Feasibility will be assessed by semi-structured interviews.
Time frame
Two months after the final session, after the booster session has taken place. Semi-structured interviews will take place with the adolescent being interviewed separately from his or her parents.Sponsors and contacts
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VU University of Amsterdam
Lead sponsor
University of Amsterdam
Sponsor institution
Utrecht University
Collaborator
Source ClinicalTrials.gov