Rehabilitation Through the Italian Version of the Teen Online Problem-Solving (TOPS) Program

NCT ID: NCT05169788

Last Updated: 2025-05-02

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

42 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2021-02-26

Study Completion Date

2023-02-28

Brief Summary

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The study aims at evaluating the feasibility and the efficacy of the Teen On-line Problem Solving program (TOPS) in improving executive functioning and behavior problems in adolescents with neurological condition aged 11-19 years.

In order to control for placebo effects, participants are randomized into two intervention conditions. Group 1 performs the regular version of the TOPS, while Group 2 performs a modified version containing no activities on executive functions, behavioral strategies and social skills.

Detailed Description

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Adolescents with neurological condition often present with executive dysfunction and behavioral and social problems. Ad hoc rehabilitation may significantly ameliorate such difficulties. With this aim, the Teen On-line Problem-Solving program (TOPS) could represent a suitable opportunity of intervention, as it aims at helping patients to improve executive and behavioral functioning. The program consists of a web-based platform composed of 10 core sessions and eventual supplementary sessions, providing information and activities on executive functioning, behavioral strategies, social skills. injury-related issues and health and wellness. The program is delivered remotely, with patients performing the intervention at home, together with their families. Biweekly Google Meet sessions with a cognitive-behavioral psychotherapist are scheduled along the entire duration of the intervention to monitor the activities related to the program and the real-life problem-solving process that patients are required to perform during the intervention.

Assessment of executive functions and behavioral problems is conducted before and after the training (immediate post training assessment and follow-up assessment 6 months after the end of the training), in order to investigate the presence of significant changes after the intervention. Both questionnaires and performance-based measures are used.

Participants are randomized into two groups: Group 1 performs the regular version of the TOPS, while Group 2 performs a modified version containing no activities on executive functions, behavioral strategies and social skills.

Based on the average effect of TOPS program reported by a meta-analysis available in the literature (Corti et al., 2019; Hedge's g = 0.39) we estimated a small-to-moderate effect size of f =0.2 (f was calculated based on Hedge's g value). Power analysis was conducted by using GPower3 software. Assuming a correlation of 0.50 between repeated measures and setting the alfa level at P \< 0.05, a sample size of 21 subjects per group is required to obtain 80% of power with our 2 groups x 3 time points design.

Conditions

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Neurological Diseases or Conditions

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

CROSSOVER

Group 1 performs the regular TOPS intervention on problem-solving and executive function-related behaviors, while Group 2, serving as active control group, performs a modified version of the TOPS including only sessions on health and wellness but no contents on problem-solving and executive function-related behaviors.
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Caregivers Outcome Assessors
Outcomes assessors and participants are blinded with respect to group assignment, as both Group 1 and Group 2 use the TOPS program platform, even though with different contents.

Study Groups

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regular TOPS group

Patients are required to perform the regular TOPS program, composed of 10 core sessions and other eventual supplementary sessions. In addition, biweekly Google Meet sessions with a cognitive-behavioral psychotherapist are scheduled, with the aim to monitor patients' activities on problem-solving related to the TOPS program contents and the problem solving process in real life. The program has a specific focus on problem-solving, executive functions, behavioral strategies and social skills.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Teen On-line Problem Solving

Intervention Type DEVICE

The TOPS program is a web-based platform delivered on computers and tablets, which is composed of different self-guided, online sessions on different contents: executive functions, social skills, behavioral strategies, injury-related issues and health and wellness. The TOPS program has been designed to be performed by patients and their families at home. Biweekly Google Meet videoconferences between a coach with expertise in cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy and patients are scheduled along the entire duration of the program.

modified TOPS group

Patients are required to perform the modified TOPS program, composed of 10 sessions focused only on health and wellness contents. Thus, this program does not include contents on problem-solving, executive functions, behavioral strategies and social skills, representing a low cognitively simulating activity. Biweekly Google Meet sessions with a cognitive-behavioral psychotherapist are scheduled, with the aim of monitoring training adherence and discuss the program's contents.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Teen On-line Problem Solving

Intervention Type DEVICE

The TOPS program is a web-based platform delivered on computers and tablets, which is composed of different self-guided, online sessions on different contents: executive functions, social skills, behavioral strategies, injury-related issues and health and wellness. The TOPS program has been designed to be performed by patients and their families at home. Biweekly Google Meet videoconferences between a coach with expertise in cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy and patients are scheduled along the entire duration of the program.

Interventions

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Teen On-line Problem Solving

The TOPS program is a web-based platform delivered on computers and tablets, which is composed of different self-guided, online sessions on different contents: executive functions, social skills, behavioral strategies, injury-related issues and health and wellness. The TOPS program has been designed to be performed by patients and their families at home. Biweekly Google Meet videoconferences between a coach with expertise in cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy and patients are scheduled along the entire duration of the program.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Other Intervention Names

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TOPS

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* diagnosis of neurological condition (non-progressive aquired brain injury, brain tumor, epilepsy etc.)

Exclusion Criteria

* history of abuse
* familiarity for psychiatric hospitalization
Minimum Eligible Age

11 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

19 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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IRCCS Eugenio Medea

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Locations

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Scientific Institute IRCCS E. Medea

Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy

Site Status

Countries

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Italy

References

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Corti C, Papini M, Strazzer S, Borgatti R, Romaniello R, Poggi G, Storm FA, Urgesi C, Jansari A, Wade SL, Bardoni A. Examining the Implementation of the Italian Version of the Teen Online Problem-Solving Program Coupled With Remote Psychological Support: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Res Protoc. 2025 Feb 21;14:e64178. doi: 10.2196/64178.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 39984161 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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843

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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