Not yet recruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Day Hospital Care for Adolescents With Anxious School Refusal

This study is designed to understand how helpful day hospital care is for teenagers aged 12 to 18 who are anxious about going to school. Many young people experience significant anxiety that makes attending school very difficult, sometimes called 'school phobia' or 'anxious school refusal'. The main goal is to see if this special day care helps these teenagers get back into school and if it reduces their risk of developing other mental health problems. Researchers will follow a group of patients receiving this care in a hospital setting for at least 10 months. They will check in with each patient once after 10 months to see how they are doing. This study aims to gather important information about the benefits of this type of support.

At a glance

Status

Not yet recruiting

Sponsor

GCS Ramsay Santé pour l'Enseignement et la Recherche

Enrolment target

Start

01 Sep 2025

Estimated completion

30 Jun 2026

School Phobia

What is this study about?

This study is looking into how well a specific type of care, called day hospital care, works for teenagers who have severe anxiety that stops them from going to school. This condition is sometimes known as school phobia or anxious school refusal. It’s a very real and challenging problem for many young people and their families. The researchers want to understand if this day hospital programme genuinely helps these teenagers return to school. They're also interested in whether it can prevent other mental health difficulties from arising later on.

Imagine a special hospital programme where young people go during the day for support and treatment, but they return home in the evenings. This is what 'day hospital care' means in this context. The study will carefully observe young people who are already receiving this kind of care. It's not a trial where people are given new medicines or treatments; instead, it's about watching and learning from the existing care provided.

By following a group of these teenagers over several months, the study hopes to gather valuable information. This information could help doctors and healthcare providers better understand the benefits of day hospital care. Ultimately, the goal is to improve the support and treatment available for young people struggling with anxiety and school attendance in the future.

Key takeaways

Study looks at day hospital care for anxious school refusal in teenagers.
Aims to see if this care helps return to school and prevents other mental health issues.
It's an 'observational' study – no new treatments are given.
Participants must be 12-18 years old and already in day hospital care.
Involves one extra assessment visit after 10 months of participation.
Information gathered could help improve future support for young people.

Who may be eligible?

To be part of this study, you need to be a teenager aged between 12 and 18 years old. You must be experiencing significant anxiety that makes it hard to attend school. Importantly, you also need to be already receiving day hospital care for this problem. Your parents or guardians will need to agree to your participation, and you will also need to not object to your health information being used for the study.

There are also some reasons why someone might not be able to join the study. For example, if you have a learning disability or another condition that would make it very difficult to understand what is involved or follow the study's plan, you wouldn't be able to take part. Also, if you are under special legal guardianship or don't have French social security, you wouldn't be eligible. The study is specifically for patients receiving care within the French healthcare system.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you between 12 and 18 years old?
Do you experience significant anxiety that stops you from going to school?
Are you currently receiving day hospital care for this issue?
Are your parents or guardians happy for you to take part?
Do you understand what the study involves and agree to participate?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part in this study, you will be observed as you receive your usual day hospital care for anxious school refusal. You won't be given any new or experimental treatments. After you've been in the study for about 10 months, you'll have one specific assessment appointment with a doctor involved in the research. During this appointment, the doctor will fill out some forms electronically about your progress and how you're doing. This will be the only extra visit for the study beyond your regular care. The study will continue for everyone until the last person who joined has completed their 10-month assessment. The total duration for your participation will be at least 10 months from when you join.

Potential risks and benefits

Since this is an observational study, you'll be receiving the care you would normally get for your anxious school refusal; no new treatments are being tested. This means there are no direct medical risks from participating. The main potential benefit is that your information, combined with others, could help improve care for young people with similar struggles in the future. You always have the right to withdraw from the study at any time without giving a reason, and this would not affect your usual medical care.

Locations (1)

Clinique des 3 cyprès
Verified postcode
La Penne-sur-Huveaune, France

Common questions

What is 'anxious school refusal'?

It's when anxiety about school is so strong that it stops a young person from being able to go, sometimes called 'school phobia'.

What is 'day hospital care'?

It's a special programme where young people go for treatment and support during the day, but they go home in the evenings.

Will I have to take new medicines?

No, this study is just observing the care you already receive; you won't be given any new or experimental medicines.

How long will I be in the study?

You will be followed for at least 10 months from when you join, with one assessment visit at the 10-month mark.

Can I leave the study if I change my mind?

Yes, you can choose to leave the study at any time, and it won't affect your ongoing medical care.

How to find out more

solal STORA, MD

solal.stora@gmail.com 04 28 63 16 01 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.