Family Help Program: Pediatric Recurrent Headache and Abdominal Pain
Family Help Program: Pediatric Recurrent Headache and Abdominal Pain
The purpose of the Strongest Families (formerly Family Help Program)is to evaluate the
 effectiveness of the Strongest Families distance intervention compared to usual or standard
 care that is typically provided to children with mild to moderate Recurrent
 Headache/Abdominal Pain symptomology. This is a single-centre trial based at the IWK Health
 Centre. The primary outcome is change in diagnosis.
The purpose of the Family Help Program is to deliver, primary care mental health services to
 children and their families in the comfort and privacy of their own home. Approximately 106
 children (9-12 years of age)suffering from mild to moderate (but clinically significant)
 symptoms of pediatric Recurrent Headache/Abdominal Pain will be randomized.

 The intervention is delivered from a distance, using educational materials (manuals,
 video-tapes, audio-tapes) and telephone consultation with a trained paraprofessional "coach"
 who is supervised by a licensed health care professional. The telephone coach delivers
 consistent care based on written protocols, with on-going evaluation by a professional team.

 Fifty percent of the eligible participants will receive Family Help Program telephone-based
 treatment and 50% will be referred back to their family physician to receive standard care as
 determined by that physician. Those receiving standard care will be evaluated for outcome
 results and then compared to the Family Help treated participants. It is anticipated that
 Family Help treatment will be proven to be as or more effective than standard care.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  child 9 to 16 years of age

 -  child had recurrent headache and abdominal pain at least 3 times a month

 -  child's physical examination normal

 -  access to a telephone in the home

 -  speak and write english

 -  mild to moderate anxiety symptomology

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  child's pain due to trauma, systemic disease or disorder

 -  child received any psychological treatment for this or similar disorder in the past 6
 months