Understanding Psychotherapy Effects and Dropout in Children and Adolescents After the October 7th Events in Israel

What this Trial Is About

The research investigates the mental and physical health effects of war-related traumatic events on children, adolescents, and their parents in Israel, focusing on psychotherapy outcomes and dropout rates. It addresses gaps in knowledge about distress following the October 7th, 2023 multi-regional conflict, exploring how parental mental health influences childrens well-being and therapy engagement. The study uses both retrospective and prospective methods to understand these impacts and therapy predictors. The study includes two phases a retrospective analysis of electronic health records from Clalit Health Services covering children and adolescents aged 6-18 who received outpatient psychotherapy between 2015 and 2024, and a prospective study involving ongoing psychotherapy cases at Shalvata Mental Health Centers Crisis Intervention Unit. Data includes demographics, diagnoses, therapy attendance, and therapy outcome measures. The prospective phase assesses pre-treatment and within-treatment factors such as therapeutic alliances, expectations, and symptoms over seven weeks with repeated assessments. Participants will undergo various assessments including psychological symptom checklists, somatic symptom scales, and therapeutic alliance questionnaires completed by patients, caregivers, and therapists at baseline and during therapy. Retrospective data will analyze dropout rates and mental health trends before and after therapy. The study will monitor health services utilization up to two years post-therapy start. Consent procedures accommodate parental involvement, and safety protocols address participant distress. Overall participation duration varies by phase and therapy course.

Mechanisms and Outcomes of Children and Adolescent Psychotherapy