Project Description

Anxiety is the most prevalent mental illness among children and young people in the UK, and is continuing to rise (Sacco et al., 2024). It impacts a child’s functioning and development when not treated effectively. However, accessing treatment within Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) is limited to severe cases because of resource constraints and service demand. Additionally, children with acute symptoms can find engaging in one-to-one therapy difficult. Parents and carers are key supporters in these situations. However, parental Accommodation (PA), where families modify their routines and behaviours so their child can avoid anxious situations, has been identified as a significant maintaining factor for a child’s recurring symptoms (Zilcha-Mano et al., 2021). A parent-led intervention targeting PA has recently shown positive outcomes for children with anxiety in the United States (Lebowitz et al., 2020). Potentially, a similar approach could be advanced for a UK setting.

This project aims to co-develop and pilot a group-based parent-led PA-focused intervention within a UK CAMHS setting for parents of a child with severe anxiety. The research will adopt a translational approach. Phase one will involve a realist review of current evidence. Phase two will use findings to co-develop the intervention with clinicians and patients, using an implementation science framework. Phase three will pilot the intervention within a CAMHS setting to evaluate acceptability, adherence, and preliminary clinical outcomes. The project addresses a critical gap using a scalable model for clinical practice, whilst seeking to empower parents with strategies to support their child.