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Study of Executive Functioning Interventions for Children's Mental Health

This study is looking at two different approaches to help children with mental health challenges, especially those with Autism Spectrum Disorder and difficulties with executive functioning (skills like planning and problem-solving). It's comparing "Unstuck and On Target," an intervention adapted for mental health settings, with "Unified Protocol for Children," which helps with emotional difficulties. The goal is to see how well these interventions work in real-world mental health programs and how they affect children's mental health symptoms and behaviors. The study plans to enroll 672 participants and is currently unclear about its recruitment status. Success will be measured by changes in children's mental health symptoms and behaviors, and how well the interventions are delivered.

Study design
This interventional study plans to enroll 672 participants. It is comparing two different behavioral interventions.
What's involved
Not specified in the trial record.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Participants' mental health symptoms and behaviors will be followed for 12 months after the intervention is implemented.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT06651086

Hybrid Effectiveness-Implementation Trial of an Executive Functioning Intervention for Children's Mental Health Services

Recruiting
NAAges 6–99InterventionalHealth services
San Diego State University
~672 participants
Updated 2026-04-20 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Unstuck and On TargetUnified Protocol for Children

At a glance

Recruiting sites
2 of 2 listed sites are recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Changes in Child Mental Health Symptoms
Measured over Pre-EBI implementation, 6-months post-EBI implementation, 12-month follow-up after EBI implementation
+3 more outcomes measured

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder
Executive Functioning

Explore related trials

Autism Spectrum Disorder

NCT06651086

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 2 sites. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • San Diego State University

    San Diego, Californiastudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

  • University of Colorado - Anschutz

    Aurora, Coloradostudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

Who to contact

Kelsey S Dickson, PhD
[email protected]
858-966-7703 · ext. 246907
Email the study team

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Publicly-funded
Providing outpatient or school-based psychotherapy services to children
Have at least 8 mental health providers on staff
Employed as staff or trainee at a participating program
Employed at the program for at least the next 12 months
Providing psychotherapy services to children
Has an eligible child on current caseload (see below)
Child age 6-12 years
Receiving services from an enrolled therapist
Documented or suspected\* autism diagnosis
In the event of suspected autism diagnosis, the presence of elevated autism symptoms on the Social Responsiveness Scale-2nd Edition or the Autism Diagnostic Observation Scale-2nd Edition
Child age 6-12 years
Receiving services from an enrolled provider
No history of documented or suspected autism diagnosis

What this trial measures

  • Changes in Child Mental Health SymptomsPre-EBI implementation, 6-months post-EBI implementation, 12-month follow-up after EBI implementation

    Changes in mental health symptoms will be measured by the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), a 113-item rating scale measuring a range of mental health symptoms.

  • Externalizing BehaviorsPre-EBI implementation, 6-months post-EBI implementation, 12-month follow-up after EBI implementation

    Primary outcome measures include externalizing behaviors. The Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory (ECBI), a 36-item widely used rating scale, will measure these behaviors.

  • Evidence-based Intervention FidelityDuring 6-month EBI implementation

    A trained observer masked to evidence-based intervention (EBI) condition and time will assess EBI delivery during recorded sessions of participating therapist-client dyads. Unique fidelity forms with items corresponding to each EBI (Unstuck and On Target and Unified Protocol for Children) will be used. Items rate adherence (i.e., the degree to which key components are delivered as intended) and competence (responsiveness, engagement, skill). Items are rated on a 1-5 scale, with higher scores indicating better fidelity. Measures have internal consistencies and are shown to be sensitive to treatment effects.

  • Evidence-Based Intervention Training Engagement6-months post-EBI implementation

    Therapist evidence-based intervention (EBI) training engagement will be operationalized as adherence to training requirements, including participation in training/consultation (as rated by trainers) and training-related submissions (forms, materials).