Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy in School Refusal

ASR concerns children and adolescents who feel anxiety about going to school. Some are totally absent, some just have difficulty remaining in school for the entire day, or go to school following behavioral problems such as morning tantrums or psychosomatic complaints. Anxiety disorders are the main diagnostic underlying this behavioral problem, with one or many anxiety disorders associated (i.e. separation anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder or specific phobia). ASR causes much distress to the child, the parents, and the school personnel and interferes with social and educational development. Children with severe or chronic school refusal appear to have a long-term risk of adult mental health issues (e.g. anxiety, depression). Studies about ASR are few, and nonexistent in France. ASR occurs in approximately 1% of all school-aged children, and 5% of all clinic-referred children, is equally common in both boys and girls but more frequent in adolescents. Recommendations for anxiety disorder treatment in youth is psychotherapy. CBT, especially exposure-based, is the intervention that is supported by numerous, randomized, controlled trials in this area. But concerning ASR, there are few studies.

A specific ambulatory therapeutic CBT program for totally absent from school adolescents is established within the children and adolescent psychiatric unit in the University Hospital of Montpellier, France. The unit has implemented CBT techniques to gradually reintegrate the child back into the school environment. This program will be implemented in 3 other child and adolescent psychiatry centers (Marseille, Béziers and Nîmes).

The main objective of this study is to evaluate the efficiency of a CBT program on the return back to school.

Secondary objectives are:

• To evaluate the feasibility in implantation of this program
• To describe the characteristics of adolescents
• To assess the initial severity of mental disorders and the evolution of these disorders
• To describe the evolution of patient anxiety
• To describe the evolution of the overall functioning
• To evaluate the efficiency on the return back to school at 6 and 12 month after intervention.

Inclusion criteria

• Adolescents between 10 and 16 years old registered in French college (6è to 3è),
• Anxious school refusal based on Berg's criteria,
• Completely dropped out from school (>5 consecutive days of school nonattendance, absenteeism < 12 months),
• Anxiety disorder as a principal diagnosis (DSM 5)(MINI -S KID),
• Adolescents want to return to school,
• Signed consent by parents and adolescents

Exclusion criteria

• Intellectual disabilities
• Autism spectrum disorder
• Learning disabilities that causes emotional trouble and being the primary cause of teenagers dropping out of school.
• Conduct disorder (DSM 5)
• Ongoing psychotherapeutic care that the parents or the adolescent would not wish to suspend
• Participation in other ongoing research
• Pregnancy
• Patient not benefiting from a social security scheme