Biobehavioural Regulation of Negative Emotion as a Transdiagnostic Mechanism of Children's Psychotherapy

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying how psychotherapy works for children and adolescents aged 8 to 15 who have anxiety, depression, trauma, or disruptive behavior. The study aims to understand if the regulation of negative emotions is a key factor in how well children respond to therapy. It compares a flexible, evidence-based therapy called MATCH-ADTC with a waitlist control group to learn more about treatment effects across these mental health concerns. Children will be randomly assigned to receive the MATCH-ADTC psychotherapy program or placed on a waitlist without immediate treatment. The MATCH-ADTC treatment includes 33 therapy modules tailored to each child's primary issues, such as anxiety or disruptive behavior, and adjusted for additional concerns if present. The study involves an intervention period averaging 4 to 6 months, followed by assessments after treatment or waitlist completion. Participants and their parents will take part in various assessments, including baseline, weekly symptom and medication tracking surveys, and quarterly evaluations every three months. These assessments consist of symptom scales, clinical interviews, behavioral tasks, and physiological measures like heart rate variability. Researchers will measure changes in child and parent symptoms, emotion regulation, family function, and other outcomes to understand treatment response and the role of emotional regulation.

Big Feelings: A Study on Children's Emotions in Therapy