Effectiveness of Six Sessions CBT for Adolescents With Emotional Problems in Community Clinics

Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Short-term Treatment for Adolescents With Emotional Symptom Problems in Community Clinics in Norway. A Randomized Controlled Study

Background: There is need for more effectiveness studies concerning treatment of emotional symptom problems indicating anxiety and depression in adolescents. SMART is the only treatment manual for combined emotional disorders developed in Norwegian.

Purpose: To find the best individualized treatment for adolescents with emotional difficulties by: Finding criteria for the selection of appropriate patients for treatment with cognitive-behavior therapy program SMART in an outpatient population (14-18 years). Finding predictors of completion of treatment program SMART. Examining the effects of treatment with the SMART program at 6 months follow-up.

Design: A randomized controlled study in six outpatient clinics in the north of Norway. N= 160 referred adolescents (14-18 years) with score above 6 on the Emotional Problems scale of the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Two thirds are treated according to the SMART-manual immediately, while the waiting list control group is treated with SMART after six weeks.

Hypothesis: The SMART treatment is an effective treatment for emotional symptom problems.

Publication: The results sought published internationally and nationally and will be communicated to clinicians.

Inclusion Criteria:

Age 14 to 18 years Referred to Community Mental Health Clinic for Children and Adolescents

• Score above 6 on Emotional symptoms scale on the SDQ Fluent Norwegian language

Exclusion Criteria:

• Indicators for Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) Acute suicidal symptoms Psycho-active drug treatment start coinciding with start of intervention Symptoms indicating psychotic disorder