Comorbidity Between Balance and Childhood Anxiety

NCT00599742 | Unknown DMC

• 2 other identifiers: LH22/2007.CTIL920070174
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 64
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 2

Brief Summary

Previous studies report frequent comorbidity of anxiety and sensory-motor imbalance in adults (Sklare et al., 2001). Only a few studies tested the comorbidity in children. We confirmed that: a) children with primary diagnosis of poor balance demonstrate an elevated anxiety level (Brat et al., 2006, submitted) and, b) children with primary diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder demonstrate poor balance performance (Erez et al., 2004). These studies demonstrate the presence of balance-anxiety comorbidity in children with primary disorder of either balance or anxiety. Our theoretical reasoning formalized under the "three stage theory of learning" points to the possibility that poor balance may either predispose or cause the emergence of anxiety disorder (Erez et al., 2004). Thus, in the present study we test two predictions: (a) high prevalence of comorbidity of anxiety and balance disorders in children with a primary diagnosis of generalized or separation anxiety disorder, and, (b) intensive balance training, but not training of flexibility and power, will reduce the level of anxiety in children with primary diagnosis of anxiety.

Conditions

Anxiety

Keywords

Balance disorder; Vestibular disorder; Generalized anxiety disorder; Separation anxiety disorder; Children; Balance training

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Balance improvement and anxiety reduction

  After 7 weeks of training

Study Arms (2)

A

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Balance training group

Behavioral: Balance training

B

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Motor Training

Behavioral: Motor training

Interventions

Balance training BEHAVIORAL

Physical exercise of balance. The training will last 7 weeks, twice per week, 1 hour per session.

A

Motor training BEHAVIORAL

Motor exercise of power and flexibility. The training will last 7 weeks, twice per week, 1 hour per session.

B

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 8 Years - 14 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• Ages 8-14
• Boy or girl
• Generalized or separation anxiety disorder
• Agreement to participate and written informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• Major affective disorders
• Severe developmental disorders
• Refusal to participate

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Lev-Hasharon Mental Healtlh Center: lead
• Tel Aviv University: collaborator
• Institute of Physical Education and Sports Sciences: collaborator
• University of Haifa: collaborator

Study Sites (2)

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Clinic, Lev Hasharon MHC

Netanya, Israel

RECRUITING

Wingate Institute for Physical Education

Netanya, Israel

RECRUITING

Related Publications (2)

• Erez O, Gordon CR, Sever J, Sadeh A, Mintz M. Balance dysfunction in childhood anxiety: findings and theoretical approach. J Anxiety Disord. 2004;18(3):341-56. doi: 10.1016/S0887-6185(02)00291-8.

  PMID: 15125981 BACKGROUND

• Sklare DA, Konrad HR, Maser JD, Jacob RG. Special issue on the interface of balance disorders and anxiety: an introduction and overview. J Anxiety Disord. 2001 Jan-Apr;15(1-2):1-7. doi: 10.1016/s0887-6185(00)00039-6. No abstract available.

  PMID: 11388353 BACKGROUND

Related Links

• website of location of study

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Anxiety Disorders; Vestibular Diseases; Generalized Anxiety Disorder; Anxiety, Separation

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Mental Disorders; Labyrinth Diseases; Ear Diseases; Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases; Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Study Officials

• Michal Rappaport, MD

  Lev HaSharon Mental Health Center

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER GOV

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 11, 2008
• First Posted: January 24, 2008
• Study Start: December 1, 2007
• Primary Completion: December 1, 2010
• Study Completion: December 1, 2010
• Last Updated: January 24, 2008

Record last verified: 2008-01

Locations

IL (2)