Mental Health Services for Foster and Adopted Children

Depression Clinical Trial

Official title: Specialized Mental Health Services for Foster Infants

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

This study will determine the effectiveness of a relationship-based intervention in improving the interaction between caregivers and young children placed in their care.

Clinical Trial Description

Infants and toddlers who are placed into foster or adoptive care often exhibit a number of behavioral, emotional, and physiological problems. In the absence of specialized services, problems in the relationship between caregiver and child may develop; problems in the child's functioning often persist and are exacerbated. This study will attempt to alleviate the attachment and regulatory difficulties that affect many young children placed into care.

Children are randomly assigned to either an experimental group or to a treatment control group for 3 years. The experimental group focuses on relational issues; the control group focuses on cognitive development. Caregivers receiving the relational intervention are trained to provide nurturing care, and to help children learn to develop adequate regulatory skills. Caregivers in the treatment control group receive training designed to enhance children's cognitive development. Caregivers in both groups will receive 10 home visits. Observations of children and parents are used to assess participants. ;

Study Design

Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Double Blind (Subject, Caregiver, Outcomes Assessor), Primary Purpose: Prevention

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
• Depression
• Problem Behavior
• Problem Behaviors

• NCT number: NCT00056303
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: University of Delaware
• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 1
• Start date: December 2002
• Completion date: December 2016