Yale University, in collaboration with MQ: Transforming Mental Health, announced a new clinical trial exploring the effectiveness of parent-based interventions for adolescent anxiety disorders. The study focuses on two behavioral approaches—Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) and Parent Educational Support (PES)—and aims to determine their impact on managing and reducing anxiety symptoms in teens through structured parental involvement. Though the study is not yet recruiting participants, it reflects increasing interest in family-focused therapeutic methodologies.
In this article:
What are the trial methods?
The study intends to evaluate two distinct intervention programs:
- SPACE: This method focuses on empowering parents to reduce accommodations they may instinctively make for their child’s anxiety. By modifying family dynamics, SPACE aims to foster independent coping mechanisms in adolescents.
- PES: This intervention offers educational support to help parents understand adolescent anxiety disorders better. It provides parents with strategies to assist their children effectively without direct behavioral modification approaches.
Both interventions are rooted in evidence-based practices and prioritize the role of parents as primary influencers in a child’s mental health journey.
Which conditions are targeted?
The trial focuses explicitly on anxiety disorders affecting adolescents. These conditions often manifest through excessive worry, avoidance behaviors, or physical symptoms such as heart palpitations and stomach aches. Addressing these issues directly through parent-led strategies may present a novel pathway to improving adolescent mental health within family environments.
Who can participate?
Though the trial is listed as not yet recruiting, likely eligibility criteria may include adolescents diagnosed with anxiety disorders and their respective parents or guardians. Specific recruitment guidelines and participant demographics will be finalized closer to the trial’s active enrollment phase.
FAQs
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Q: What is the goal of the study?
A: The study aims to determine how parent-based interventions can effectively manage and reduce anxiety symptoms in adolescents. -
Q: When will recruitment begin?
A: As of October 2025, recruitment has not started. Yale University will announce further updates in due course. -
Q: Are both interventions delivered to all participants?
A: Based on trial design, participants could be assigned to one of the two intervention groups—SPACE or PES—rather than both.
Conclusion
This upcoming trial underscores the shift toward family-oriented approaches in mental health care. Once recruitment opens, it will present a unique opportunity for families to test interventions aimed at attenuating adolescent anxiety directly within their daily environments.
Disclaimer
This article is intended for informative purposes only and does not constitute legal or clinical advice. Regulatory professionals should independently verify the details.
For full information about the announcement, see the link below.
https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07219992?term=medical+device