Co-CAT; Version 1.0 [COVID-19]
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Child Anxiety Treatment in the context of COVID-19 (Co-CAT):\n\nEnabling Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) to provide efficient remote treatment for child anxiety problems
IRAS ID
288074
Contact name
Cathy Creswell
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Oxford / Clinical Trials and Research Governance
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN12890382
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
In the context of COVID-19, NHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) face major challenges in providing psychological treatments that (i) work when delivered remotely, and (ii) can be delivered efficiently to manage an anticipated increase in referrals as social distancing measures are relaxed. \n\nAnxiety problems are a common reason for referral to CAMHS, children with pre-existing anxiety problems are particularly vulnerable in the context of COVID-19, and there are concerns about likely increases in childhood anxiety as schools reopen. \n\nWe worked with children, parents and NHS clinicians to develop an online program (the OSI platform) that parents/carers of children with anxiety disorders work through with remote support from a CAMHS therapist. We will now test whether the OSI platform together with therapist support works as well as what CAMHS are currently offering to help children with anxiety problems (while social distancing measures are in place and in the post COVID-19 recovery phase), and whether OSI as delivered with therapist support brings wider benefits to families and CAMHS. We will also provide an understanding of parents’ and therapists’ experiences of digital treatments in CAMHS in the context of COVID-19. \n\nThis research has the potential to create a step change in the digital delivery of treatments in CAMHS, bringing benefits in the COVID-19 context and beyond.
REC name
London - City & East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/HRA/4431
Date of REC Opinion
4 Sep 2020
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion