NCT04263558

Echo: Optimizing a Group-based School Intervention for Children With Emotional Problems

Completed NA Last updated 29 November 2023

What this trial tests

NA trial testing Emotion child in Anxiety Depression in 1,364 participants. Completed in 25 May 2023.

Timeline

13 February 2020

Primary endpoint
25 May 2023

25 May 2023

Quick facts

Lead sponsor	Regionsenter for barn og unges psykiske helse
Phase	NA
Status	Completed
Study type	INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation	randomized
Design	factorial
Masking	none
Primary purpose	prevention
Enrollment	1,364
Start date	13 February 2020
Primary completion	25 May 2023
Estimated completion	25 May 2023
Sites	3 locations across Norway

Drugs / interventions tested

• Emotion child

Conditions studied

• Anxiety Depression — all drugs for Anxiety Depression →

Sponsor

Regionsenter for barn og unges psykiske helse

Who can join

Adults 8 to 12, any sex, with Anxiety Depression. Patients with the condition only — healthy volunteers not accepted.

Sponsor's own description

The present study (Echo) will promote much needed research and innovation that optimize service provision in first line health services for the alarmingly high number of school children who suffer from clinical and subthreshold levels of anxiety and depression. The effect of different versions of an evidence-based intervention for this group of children will be tested using a cluster randomized design involving 40 schools across Norway. The aim is to create a framework that allows more evidence-based psychosocial interventions to be provided at a lower cost to society. Echo will provide knowledge about three main evidence gaps for children: (1) The effect of school-based preventive interventions on anxiety and depression; (2) The effect of feedback informed systems, and; (3) the effect and cost-effectiveness of digital health interventions using online sessions and virtual reality technology.

Publications & conference data

8 peer-reviewed publications reference this trial (live from Europe PMC):

1. Study protocol of a factorial trial ECHO: optimizing a group-based school intervention for children with emotional problems.
   Neumer SP, Patras J, Holen S, Lisøy C, et al · · 2021 · cited 11× · PMID 34154666 · DOI 10.1186/s40359-021-00581-y
2. Making high-quality measures available in diverse contexts-The psychometric properties of the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale in a Norwegian sample.
   Lisøy C, Neumer SP, Waaktaar T, Ingul JM, et al · · 2022 · cited 10× · PMID 35947730 · DOI 10.1002/mpr.1935
3. Optimizing indicated cognitive behavioral therapy to prevent child anxiety and depression: A cluster-randomized factorial trial.
   Lisøy C, Neumer SP, Adolfsen F, Ingul JM, et al · · 2024 · cited 7× · PMID 38522127 · DOI 10.1016/j.brat.2024.104520
4. Inside the Clockwork of the ECHO Factorial Trial: A Conceptual Model With Proposed Mediators for Prevention of Emotional Problems in Children.
   Ingul JM, Martinsen K, Adolfsen F, Sund AM, et al · · 2021 · cited 2× · PMID 34234731 · DOI 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.703224
5. Cost-effectiveness analysis of preventive strategies for child anxiety and depression: a health service perspective.
   Martinsen KD, Aas E, Ingul JM, Lisøy C, et al · · 2025 · PMID 41034930 · DOI 10.1186/s13034-025-00962-w
6. Parental Involvement in Child Anxiety and Depression: Exploring the Impact of Delivery Format on Modifiable Parental Factors.
   Ytreland K, Bania EV, Lydersen S, Sund AM, et al · · 2025 · PMID 39946004 · DOI 10.1007/s10578-025-01814-6
7. Does dose matter? Parental attendance in a preventive intervention for anxious and sad children.
   Bania EV, Ytreland K, Sund AM, Lydersen S, et al · · 2024 · PMID 39696615 · DOI 10.1186/s40359-024-02234-2
8. Dose-Response Effects of MittEcho, a Measurement Feedback System, in an Indicated Mental Health Intervention for Children in Municipal and School Services in Norway.
   Haug IM, Neumer SP, Handegård BH, Lisøy C, et al · · 2025 · PMID 38809322 · DOI 10.1007/s10488-024-01389-9