-up (T2), and 12-month follow-up (T3). The primary outcome timepoint is specified as T2.
Secondary outcome measures
All secondary outcomes will be assessed at T0, T1, T2 and T3. The primary outcome timepoint is specified as T2.
1. Adolescent-reported outcomes
1.1 Symptoms of depression- measured using the 9-item adolescent version of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-A).
1.2 Symptoms of traumatic stress- measured using the 13-item Children’s Revised Impact of Event Scale (CRIES-13).
1.3 Impairment of Daily Functioning- measured using a questionnaire was developed specifically for this study. It consists of 10 items pertaining to the level of impairment experienced with important daily activities.
1.4 Wellbeing - measured using the 14-item Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS).
1.5 Child Use of Coping Strategies- measured via the 7-item Strategy Use Questionnaire (SUQ) developed specifically for the trial
2. Caregiver-reported outcomes
2.1 Caregiver-reported child psychological distress- measured by the PSC35 caregiver-version.
2.2 Caregiver level psychological distress- measured using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6)
2.3 Parenting- measured using the Alabama Parenting Questionnaire-42 (APQ42)
2.4 Caregiver Use of Coping Strategies- measured via the 8-item Strategy Use Questionnaire (SUQ) developed specifically for the trial
Where a caregiver has multiple children in the study, the APQ42, K6, and caregiver SUQ will only be completed once by the caregiver, while the caregiver-report PSC-35 will be completed separately for each child.
3. Mediator: Mechanisms of treatment, measured using the SUQ child and parent versions.
4. Moderators: The study is not powered for moderation effects, however, we will conduct exploratory analyses of potential moderators, which may include:
4.1 Child exposure to potentially traumatic events, measured at T0 via caregiver report, using a trauma checklist contextually developed for this site
4.2 Various demographic variables measured using a demographic questionnaire at T0.
5.1 Economic indicators (T0, T1, T2, T3) and barriers to accessing health care (T0) (for cost-benefit and health-system analyses), measured using survey questions designed for this study - partly based on the Client Service Receipt Inventory (CSRI)
5.2 Treatment contamination check, measured using survey questions designed for this study (T1, T2)
All outcomes are assessed by a masked team of interviewers not involved in service delivery.
Overall trial start date
Overall trial end date
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Aged between 10 and 14 years;
2. Reside with a caregiver who is able to provide consent;
3. Able and willing to commit to attending the weekly EASE sessions;
4. Screens positive for psychological distress during screening (using 17 item PSC).
5. Children of any nationality and background will be eligible.
Target number of participants
Participant exclusion criteria
1. Unaccompanied minor;
2. Caregiver is not a family member, as they would not be able to provide legal consent;
3. Significant cognitive impairment or severe neurological impairments or developmental difficulties as determined by caregiver-report during screening, where this would impair their ability to participate in a group programme;
4. Imminent risk of suicide;
5. Currently married.
Recruitment start date
Recruitment end date
Countries of recruitment
Trial participating centre
War Child Holland
Hussein Oueini Street
European Commission (H2020)
European Union, EC
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Planned publication in a high-impact peer reviewed journal
IPD sharing statement:
The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are/will be available upon request from Mark Jordans, War Child Holland
Intention to publish date
Participant level data
Available on request
Basic results (scientific)