Child Psychotherapy In A Paediatric Out-Patient Setting
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Child Psychotherapy In A Paediatric Out-Patient Setting: How Can A Brief Intervention Service Contribute To The Assessment Of Under 5’s?
IRAS ID
160739
Contact name
Elizabeth Stockwell
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of East London
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 10 months, 1 days
Research summary
The aim of the research study is to evaluate the contribution that a brief child psychotherapy intervention may make to the paediatric assessment of children aged five and under who are currently being assessed by a Community Paediatrician regarding a possible developmental diagnosis.
The referred child and their primary caregiver/s will be offered up to five appointments with the Chief Investigator, at a local community hospital, to think about the child’s behaviour and difficulties from a psychoanalytic psychotherapy perspective. At the first appointment, the child’s primary caregiver will be asked to complete two routine pre-treatment written questionnaires regarding the nature of their child’s difficulties and their goals for the clinical intervention. Following completion of the appointments, the child’s primary caregiver will be asked their views again regarding their child’s behaviour and difficulties by completing two short routine questionnaires, as well as completing a routine service evaluation questionnaire.
The primary caregiver, referring Community Paediatrician and child’s GP will then provided with a written report from the Chief Investigator detailing the clinical work undertaken, a formulation regarding the child’s difficulties and any recommendations for future support or intervention.
The referring Community Paediatrician will then be invited to participate in a semi-structured interview and will be asked what their experience of the possible contribution of the brief child psychotherapy intervention might have towards the paediatric diagnosis assessment of the referred child and more widely, to other children currently known to the Community Paediatric department. A follow-up interview with the Community Paediatrician after the child's next paediatric review, usually six to twelve months later, will also be offered to evaluate the possible process of learning and impact upon future referrals to the service.
The study is expected to last twelve months in duration.
REC name
London - Camden & Kings Cross Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/LO/1738
Date of REC Opinion
10 Nov 2017
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion