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. 2014 Sep;19(3):192-198.
doi: 10.1111/camh.12045. Epub 2013 Oct 26.

A randomized controlled trial of a home and school-based intervention for selective mutism - defocused communication and behavioural techniques

Beate Oerbeck  1 , Murray B Stein  2 , Tore Wentzel-Larsen  1   3 , Øyvind Langsrud  4 , Hanne Kristensen  1
Affiliations

A randomized controlled trial of a home and school-based intervention for selective mutism - defocused communication and behavioural techniques

Beate Oerbeck et al. Child Adolesc Ment Health. 2014 Sep.

Abstract

Background: Randomized controlled psychosocial treatment studies on selective mutism (SM) are lacking.

Method: Overall, 24 children with SM, aged 3-9 years, were randomized to 3 months treatment (n = 12) or wait list (n = 12). Primary outcome measure was the School Speech Questionnaire.

Results: A significant time by group interaction was found (p = .029) with significantly increased speech in the treatment group (p = .004) and no change in wait list controls (p = .936). A time by age interaction favoured younger children (p = .029). Clinical trail registration: Norwegian Research CouncilNCT01002196.

Conclusions: The treatment significantly improved speech. Greater improvement in the younger age group highlights the importance of an early intervention.

Keywords: Selective mutism; behavioural intervention; childhood anxiety; randomized controlled trial; social phobia.

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References

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