Efficacy of psychological interventions for selective mutism in children: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Title
Efficacy of psychological interventions for selective mutism in children: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Publication Date
2021-11
Author(s)
Steains, Sophie Y
Malouff, John M
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6728-7497
Email: jmalouff@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:jmalouff
Schutte, Nicola S
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3294-7659
Email: nschutte@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:nschutte
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Place of publication
United Kingdom
DOI
10.1111/cch.12895
UNE publication id
une:1959.11/31259
Abstract
Background: Selective mutism is a rare childhood anxiety disorder characterized by a consistent failure to speak in certain social situations where speech is expected, despite fluent speech in other situations. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to investigate the efficacy of psychological interventions for selective mutism in randomized controlled trials (RCTs).
Methods: Five RCTs with a total of 233 participants were analysed using a randomeffects model. A quality assessment of the included studies revealed that psychometrically sound measures and treatment manuals were used across all studies.
Results: The results of the analyses showed psychological interventions to be more effective than no treatment, with the overall weighted effect size of g = 0.87, indicating a large mean treatment effect. This effect did not significantly differ with whether only selective mutism specific or nonselective mutism specific measures were included in the analysis.
Conclusions: These findings provide support for the efficacy of psychological treatment for selective mutism. Future research could examine the effects of the successful treatments identified in this meta-analysis when compared with a psychological placebo or another bona fide treatment.
Link
Citation
Child: Care, Health and Development, 47(6), p. 771-781
ISSN
1365-2214
0305-1862
Pubmed ID
34265102
Start page
771
End page
781

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