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NCT03305458

Improving Quality of Care in Child Mental Health Service Settings

Completed NA Results posted Last updated 6 June 2025
What this trial tests

NA trial testing TFCBT in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in 713 participants. Completed in 26 October 2023.

Timeline
1 October 2018
Primary endpoint
27 February 2023
26 October 2023

Quick facts

Lead sponsorMedical University of South Carolina
PhaseNA
StatusCompleted
Study typeINTERVENTIONAL
Allocationrandomized
Designparallel
Maskingsingle
Primary purposetreatment
Enrollment713
Start date1 October 2018
Primary completion27 February 2023
Estimated completion26 October 2023
Sites1 location across United States

Drugs / interventions tested

Conditions studied

Sponsor

Medical University of South Carolina

Who can join

Adults 8 to 16, any sex, with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or Technology. Patients with the condition only — healthy volunteers not accepted.

Results — posted to ClinicalTrials.gov

Per-arm endpoint measurements with 95% confidence intervals where reported. Source: trial results section.

Child Involvement Ratings Scale (CIRS) Primary · 3 Month Timeline

Child engagement will be measured via coding of audiotaped sessions by independent, trained raters who are blind to study purpose and hypotheses. The Child Involvement Ratings Scale (CIRS) will be used to code child engagement. Ten "child involvement" items-6 positive, 4 negative- are rated for each session on a 6-point scale. The minimum total score will be 0 and the maximum score is 50. For the outcome, a single average value will be presented. The positive-involvement items emphasize the extent to which children initiate discussions, demonstrate enthusiasm, self-disclose, and demonstrate un

GroupValue95% CI
Treatment as Usual1.95± .69
Tablet-Facilitated TF-CBT2.01± .70
Provider Treatment Fidelity (TPOCS) Primary · 3 Month Timeline

Fidelity to the TF-CBT protocol will be measured by independent, trained raters who are blind to the study purpose and hypotheses, coding audiotaped treatment sessions. The TF-CBT Version of the Therapy Process Observational Coding System for Child Psychotherapy (TF-CBT TPOCS-S), modified for the eTF-CBT condition, will be used to assess provider fidelity to each TF-CBT component. Two raters will review video-recorded treatment sessions, assessing the presence or absence of specific techniques and rating their extensiveness on a 6-point scale. The total score will range from a minimum of 0 to

GroupValue95% CI
Treatment as Usual.50± .21
Tablet-Facilitated TF-CBT.43± .24
Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children (CES-DC) Secondary · Baseline, 3 Month, 6 Month, 9 Month, 12 Month

assesses the severity of depressive symptomatology in children. It is a 20-item self-report measure with possible scores ranging from 0-60. Each questions has a scaling score of 0-3. With 0 being the lowest value stating 'Not at all' and 3 being the highest value stating 'A lot'. Total score over 15 is indicative of significant levels of depressive symptoms, showing worse outcome.

Baseline Timeline
GroupValue95% CI
Treatment as Usual25.21± 12.32
Tablet-Facilitated TF-CBT23.61± 11.86
3 Month Timeline
GroupValue95% CI
Treatment as Usual20.88± 11.44
Tablet-Facilitated TF-CBT20.66± 11.92
6 Month Timeline
GroupValue95% CI
Treatment as Usual19.22± 9.88
Tablet-Facilitated TF-CBT18.91± 10.21
9 Month Timeline
GroupValue95% CI
Treatment as Usual18.35± 9.35
Tablet-Facilitated TF-CBT19.33± 10.73
12 Month Timeline
GroupValue95% CI
Treatment as Usual16± 10.02
Tablet-Facilitated TF-CBT18.76± 11.152
Therapeutic Alliance Scale for Children (TASC) Secondary · 3 Month

The Therapeutic Alliance Score for Children is a 12-item measure of the child's alliance with the therapist using a 4-pt scale. It has good internal consistency and interrupter reliability. Measuring therapeutic alliance is one of the most reliable ways to determine the strength of this bond, and it allows the therapist to identify how comfortable their client might be in sharing their thoughts, experiences, struggles and goals with them throughout care. This scale completed by the adolescent participant aged 12-18, and there is a parallel version for the therapist to complete. Each item is ra

GroupValue95% CI
Treatment as Usual21.27± 3.73
Tablet-Facilitated TF-CBT20.67± 3.34
Child/Adolescent Satisfaction Questionnaire (CASQ). Secondary · 3 Month

The Child/Adolescent Satisfaction Questionnaire is a 15-item instrument that assesses child satisfaction with mental health treatment. The last three questions are open ended questions that do not provide value (these will not be measured/scored). The first twelve questions have a scoring scale between 1-5, with 1 being the lowest value ('Very much False') and 5 being the highest value with ('Very much True'). The total minimum score is 12 and the maximum total score being 60. The higher the total score represents a better outcome. Screening was given to enrolled children.

GroupValue95% CI
Treatment as Usual51.20± 8.01
Tablet-Facilitated TF-CBT50.91± 8.79
The Shame Measure Secondary · Baseline, 3 Month, 6 Month, 9 Month, 12 Month

4-item instrument that assesses feelings of shame following abuse. With a score ranging 0-2, 0 being the lowest value 'Not true' and 2 being the highest value 'Very true'. The lowest possible total score is 0 and the highest possible total score is 8. The higher the score meant a worse outcome. Screening completed by enrolled children.

Baseline Timeline
GroupValue95% CI
Treatment as Usual2.40± 2.23
Tablet-Facilitated TF-CBT2.08± 2.23
3 Month Timeline
GroupValue95% CI
Treatment as Usual1.58± 1.77
Tablet-Facilitated TF-CBT1.54± 2.01
6 Month Timeline
GroupValue95% CI
Treatment as Usual1.34± 1.77
Tablet-Facilitated TF-CBT1.34± 1.94
9 Month Timeline
GroupValue95% CI
Treatment as Usual1.21± 1.60
Tablet-Facilitated TF-CBT1.07± 1.71
12 Month Timeline
GroupValue95% CI
Treatment as Usual1.02± 1.81
Tablet-Facilitated TF-CBT1.14± 1.78
The Child and Adolescent Trauma Screen (CATS) - Youth Version Secondary · Baseline, 3 Month, 6 Month, 9 Month, 12 Month

35-item instrument that assesses exposure to traumatic events and all 20 Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder- Fifth Edition, Symptoms of PTSD. 20 items are scored ranging total value of 0-60; the minimum total score being 0 and the maximum total score being 60. Values ranging between 0-3, with the lowest possible score of 0 being 'Not at All' and 3 being the highest with 'All the time.' The higher values represent a worst outcome. Screenings complete with enrolled children.

Baseline Timeline
GroupValue95% CI
Treatment as Usual21.50± 13.03
Tablet-Facilitated TF-CBT21.66± 13.59
3 Month Timeline
GroupValue95% CI
Treatment as Usual16.33± 11.58
Tablet-Facilitated TF-CBT16.83± 13.50
6 Month Timeline
GroupValue95% CI
Treatment as Usual13.74± 11.06
Tablet-Facilitated TF-CBT14.51± 11.95
9 Month Timeline
GroupValue95% CI
Treatment as Usual13.09± 12.39
Tablet-Facilitated TF-CBT12.10± 11.97
12 Month Timeline
GroupValue95% CI
Treatment as Usual10.57± 11.61
Tablet-Facilitated TF-CBT12.33± 11.26
Caregiver Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ) Secondary · 3 Month

The Caregiver Satisfaction Questionnaire is a 15-item instrument that assesses caregiver satisfaction with mental health treatment. The last three questions are open ended questions that do not provide value (these will not be measured/scored). The first twelve questions have a scoring scale between 1-5, with 1 being the lowest value ('Very much False') and 5 being the highest value with ('Very much True').The minimum total score being 12 and the maximum total scores being 60. The higher the score represents a better outcome. Assessment given to only enrolled parent/caregivers and children. Sc

GroupValue95% CI
Treatment as Usual52.46± 7.64
Tablet-Facilitated TF-CBT52.79± 8.67
Working Alliance Inventory (WAI-short Form) Secondary · 3 Month Timeline

The WAI is a 12-item measure of the parent-therapist alliance using a 7-point scale (never to always). Scoring ranging between 1-7, with 1 being the lowest ('Never') and 7 being the highest with ('Always'). Total scores ranging between 12-84. Screening was completed by enrolled caregivers/parents. Higher score indicate a better therapeutic alliance.

GroupValue95% CI
Treatment as Usual51.4± 7.85
Tablet-Facilitated TF-CBT51.03± 8.73
Brief Problems Monitor (BPM) Secondary · Baseline, 3 Month, 6 Month, 9 Month, 12 Month

The BPM is a 19-item measure of emotional and behavioral functioning in children. The BPM is well-validated and comparable to the lengthier Child Behavior Checklist. The values range from 0-2 with 0 being the lowest value of 'Not True' and 2 being the highest value of 'Very True'. The lowest possible total score is 0 and the total highest possible score being 38. The higher the total score the worse outcome. Screening was completed with enrolled caregivers/parents.

Baseline Timeline
GroupValue95% CI
Treatment as Usual14.5± 7.78
Tablet-Facilitated TF-CBT14.9± 7.62
3 Month Timeline
GroupValue95% CI
Treatment as Usual12.1± 8.07
Tablet-Facilitated TF-CBT13.3± 8.48
6 Month Timeline
GroupValue95% CI
Treatment as Usual10.6± 8.94
Tablet-Facilitated TF-CBT12.7± 8.74
9 Month Timeline
GroupValue95% CI
Treatment as Usual11.0± 8.99
Tablet-Facilitated TF-CBT12.1± 9.00
12 Month Timeline
GroupValue95% CI
Treatment as Usual9.8± 8.99
Tablet-Facilitated TF-CBT11.9± 7.97
Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD-R). Secondary · baseline, 3, 6, 9, 12 months Timeline

The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale is a 20-item self-report scale of depression completed by the enrolled caregiver. It is widely used and demonstrates excellent psychometric properties. Response options range from 0 to 3 for each item (0 = Rarely or None of the Time, 1 = Some or Little of the Time, 2 = Moderately or Much of the time, 3 = Most or Almost All the Time). Scores range from 0 to 60, with high scores indicating greater depressive symptoms. A score equal to or above 15 indicates a person at risk for clinical depression. Enrolled caregivers had multiple children enr

Baseline
GroupValue95% CI
Treatment as Usual17.94± 14.59
Tablet-Facilitated TF-CBT18.28± 13.25
3 Month Timeline
GroupValue95% CI
Treatment as Usual14.77± 13.71
Tablet-Facilitated TF-CBT16.23± 12.61
6 Month Timeline
GroupValue95% CI
Treatment as Usual12.94± 12.99
Tablet-Facilitated TF-CBT23.88± 86.44
9 Month Timeline
GroupValue95% CI
Treatment as Usual14.6± 12.80
Tablet-Facilitated TF-CBT15.62± 13.87
12 Month Timeline
GroupValue95% CI
Treatment as Usual12.66± 12.90
Tablet-Facilitated TF-CBT14.91± 13.49
The Child and Adolescent Trauma Screen (CATS) - Caregiver Version Secondary · Baseline, 3 Month, 6 Month, 9 Month, 12 Month

35-item parent version of the CATS-Youth. CATS are given to enrolled Caregivers. A total symptom score is calculated by summing up the raw scores of items 1-20 (possible range = 0-60). The lowest value score of 0 being 'Never' and the highest value of 3 'Almost Always.' We recommend to use a cut-off ≥ 21 as indication of a clinically relevant level of symptoms. The higher the score means a worse outcome. Screening completed by enrolled caregiver/parents. Enrolled caregivers had multiple children enrolled meaning that caregivers with multiple children were asked more than once for each time poi

Baseline
GroupValue95% CI
Treatment as Usual21.16± 12.64
Tablet-Facilitated TF-CBT20.27± 12.65
3 Month
GroupValue95% CI
Treatment as Usual13.80± 11.43
Tablet-Facilitated TF-CBT16.70± 12.26
6 Month
GroupValue95% CI
Treatment as Usual13.95± 12.57
Tablet-Facilitated TF-CBT13.85± 12.09
9 Month
GroupValue95% CI
Treatment as Usual13.62± 13.92
Tablet-Facilitated TF-CBT13.80± 12.23
12 Month
GroupValue95% CI
Treatment as Usual10.22± 12.37
Tablet-Facilitated TF-CBT12.92± 12.06

Adverse events — posted to ClinicalTrials.gov

Time frame: 52 weeks, 1 year. Reporting threshold: 1%. Adverse-event reports describe events observed during the trial — not all are caused by the drug.

Treatment as Usual
Serious: 2/267 (1%)
Deaths: 0/267
Tablet-Facilitated TF-CBT
Serious: 4/320 (1%)
Deaths: 4/320
Not Randomized
Serious: 0/126 (0%)
Deaths: 0/126

Serious adverse events (3 terms)

ReactionSystemTreatment as UsualTablet-Facilitated TF-CBTNot Randomized
Caregiver DeathInvestigations
Suicide IdeationsInvestigations
Self HarmInvestigations
Other adverse events (4 terms — click to expand)

ReactionSystemTreatment as UsualTablet-Facilitated TF-CBTNot Randomized
Suicide Ideation/ Self HarmInvestigations
Patient taken to a Inpatient ClinicPsychiatric disorders
Informing TherapistInvestigations
DSS ReportsInvestigations

Most-reported serious reactions: Caregiver Death, Suicide Ideations, Self Harm.

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03305458 adverse events section.

Sponsor's own description

The investigators recently completed an NIMH R34 in which they piloted a patient- and provider-informed tablet-based toolkit designed to facilitate delivery of Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) - a treatment that was selected because it addresses a wide range of symptoms using techniques shared by other treatments for emotional and behavioral disorders. The tablet-based toolkit consists of numerous components (e.g., videos, interactive games, drawing applications) that are designed to facilitate provider-patient interactions in a way that enhances children's engagement and supports adherence to the treatment model. The tablet-based toolkit was very well received by children, caregivers, and providers in the pilot evaluation. Moreover, all benchmarks for feasibility were met or exceeded. This study proposes to conduct a hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial to examine the extent to which the tablet intervention may improve fidelity, engagement, and children's mental health outcomes. The investigators will conduct a randomized controlled trial with 120 mental health providers and 360 families in partnership with dozens of clinics in the Carolinas and Florida. Providers will be assigned randomly to tablet-facilitated vs. standard TF-CBT. Youth aged 8-16 years with clinically elevated symptoms of PTSD will be recruited. Baseline and 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-month post-baseline assessments will be conducted by independent, blind evaluators. Sessions will be videorecorded for observational coding of engagement and fidelity by independent raters blind to study hypotheses. The investigators will also examine costs and conduct semi-structured interviews with families, providers, supervisors, and agency leaders to inform future dissemination and implementation initiatives. Technology-based resources that are scalable, easy to use, and designed for efficient integration into everyday practice may have sustained national impact.

Publications & conference data

No peer-reviewed publications indexed yet for this trial. Completed trials usually publish results within 12-18 months.

Verify or expand the search:

Other trials of TFCBT

Trials testing the same drug.

Other recruiting trials for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Currently open trials in the same condition.

Other Medical University of South Carolina trials

Trials by the same sponsor.

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Data sources for this page

Drug Landscape aggregates and links these public records for informational use only. Always verify against the primary source before clinical or regulatory decisions. Canonical URL: https://druglandscape.com/trial/NCT03305458.

Primary sources · FDA · ClinicalTrials.gov · EMA · SEC EDGAR · ChEMBL · Wikidata · full sourcing