Evaluating an Online Adjunctive Support Following Intensive Services (OASIS) Strategy for Youth With Selective Mutism

Evaluating an Online Adjunctive Support Following Intensive Services (OASIS) Strategy for Youth With Selective Mutism

This study sought to evaluate an innovative post-acute continuation/transition planning treatment strategy that leveraged an in-person intensive treatment followed by online, videoconferencing-based "booster" sessions for youth with selective mutism (SM). Twenty children between the ages of 4 and 10 and their caregivers were scheduled to participate in an in-person intensive group behavioral treatment (IGBT) for SM and subsequently randomized to receive either (a) six, biweekly, hour-long, videoconferencing-delivered booster sessions or (b) no additional treatment for 12 weeks. Due to COVID-19-related physical distancing restrictions, the study team was unable to provide in-person services. Thus, the clinical trial was converted to an open-trial design focused on evaluating remote treatment options (i.e., remotely delivered caregiver training sessions and/or a remotely delivered IGBT) for these families. All families retained in the study have or will participate(d) in assessments at the following time points: Intake (i.e., 4-5 months prior to the remote IGBT); Baseline (i.e., 1 month prior to the IGBT), Post-IGBT (i.e., 2 weeks following the IGBT), and School Year Follow Up (i.e., 16 weeks following the IGBT).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Child between the ages of 4-10 years, and his or her caregiver(s)
• Child meets DSM-5 criteria for selective mutism diagnosis
• Child speaks English fluently

Exclusion Criteria:

• Child is identified as having any psychiatric condition significantly more impairing than selective mutism that requires alternate treatment
• The child is nonverbal with all caregivers