A randomized controlled trial of a home and school‐based intervention for selective mutism – defocused communication and behavioural techniques. Issue 3 (26th October 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Oerbeck, Beate; Stein, Murray B.; Wentzel‐Larsen, Tore; Langsrud, Øyvind; Kristensen, Hanne
• Is Part Of: Child and adolescent mental health. Volume 19:Issue 3(2014:Aug.)
• Page Start: 192
• Page End: 198
• Publication Date: 2013-10-26
• Subjects: Adolescent psychology -- Periodicals; Child mental health -- Periodicals; Child psychiatry -- Periodicals; Child psychology -- Periodicals; Teenagers -- Mental health -- Periodicals; 155.405
• DOI: 10.1111/camh.12045
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1475-357X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="camh12045-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="camh12045-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>Randomized controlled psychosocial treatment studies on selective mutism (SM) are lacking.</p> </sec> <sec id="camh12045-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Method</title> <p>Overall, 24 children with SM, aged 3–9 years, were randomized to 3 months treatment (<italic>n</italic> = 12) or wait list (<italic>n</italic> = 12). Primary outcome measure was the School Speech Questionnaire.</p> </sec> <sec id="camh12045-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>A significant time by group interaction was found (<italic>p</italic> = .029) with significantly increased speech in the treatment group (<italic>p</italic> = .004) and no change in wait list controls (<italic>p</italic> = .936). A time by age interaction favoured younger children (<italic>p</italic> = .029). Clinical trail registration: Norwegian Research CouncilNCT01002196.</p> </sec> <sec id="camh12045-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>The treatment significantly improved speech. Greater improvement in the younger age group highlights the importance of an early intervention.</p> </sec> </abstract>