Mindfulness and Relaxation Interventions in Individual Psychotherapies for Children and Adolescents

The YSR 11-18 R measures general symptom severity in patients. Eight different subscales are differentiated across 112 items: anxious/depressed, withdrawn/depressed, somatic complaints, social problems, thought problems, attention problems, delinquent behavior, and aggressive behaviors. The three subscales anxious/depressed, withdrawn/depressed and somatic complaints are regarded as internalizing problems while the two subscales delinquent behavior and aggressive behavior are regarded as externalizing behavior. To calculate subscales as well as the total score corresponding items are summed. Items are rated on a 3-point Likert-scale (0 = not true, 1 = somewhat or sometimes true, 2 = very true or often true). Higher scores reflect higher symptom severity. T-scores are used to interpret and compare the results to the corresponding age and gender group.

The FTB-KJ is a self-report instrument to measure therapeutic alliance. It contains a patient and therapist perspective with 12 items rated on a four-step scale. In addition to the items of the FTB-KJ, a two-item short version of the Therapeutic Presence Inventory will be applied. Furthermore, two items will assess if patients and therapists perceive the session-introducing intervention positively or negatively.

The CAMM is based on the Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skilss (KIMS) and assesses the general development of mindfulness in patients.The measure includes ten items, rated on a five-step scale.

To assess patients' and therapists' general development of self-compassion across the course of the study, we will apply the SCS and an adapted version of the SCS for children translated into German. It consists of 26 items and is rated on a five-step scale.

To assess the patients' hyperkinetic disorder symptoms, we will apply the DISYPS-III SBB-ADHS, consisting of 20 items rated on a four-step scale.

To assess depressive symptoms of the patients, we will apply the DISYPS-III SBB-DES. The problem scales of the SBB-DES consist of 29 items, rated on a four-step scale.

To assess anxiety symptoms of the patients, we will apply the DISYPS-III SBB-ANG. The problem scales of the SBB-ANG consist of 44 items, rated on a four-step scale.

General development of mindfulness amongst therapists across the course of the study will be assessed by the German version of the KIMS. Ot consists of 39 items that are rated on a five-step scale

The six items of the PQ-M assess the perceived quality of mindfulness implementation operationalised as perseverance in (a) receptive (b) present-moment attention.

The questionnaire assesses treatment expectancy and rationale credibility in clinical outcome studies.

Assesses the application of specific therapeutic techniques

Assesses patients' and therapists' in-session therapeutic presence

Was specifically designed to assess potential adherence effects in therapists and patients. It consists of 8 items in the patient version and 13 items in the therapist version. Patients rate five statements about how they perceived the session-introducing interventions (0 = not correct at all, 4 = true) and are asked whether and how often they practiced at home. The therapist version contains a list of 10 possible components for the session introduction (e.g. mindfulness intervention, review over the last session) that can be rated from 0 (not correct at all) to 4 (true). Also, therapists are asked to rate 3 statements about how they perceived the session introduction (0=not correct at all to 4= true).