The Effectiveness of Non-Directive Play Therapy Training on Loneliness, Social Anxiety, and Aggression in Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorde
Determining the effectiveness of non-directive play therapy training on loneliness, social anxiety, and aggression in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Design
The clinical trial will use a pretest-posttest design with experimental and control groups, and individuals will be randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups.
Settings and conduct
This study is an experimental study with a pretest–posttest design and a control group. The statistical population consists of children with hyperactivity who refer to a psychological treatment center in Ahvaz. Thirty children are randomly selected and assigned to two groups: experimental (15 participants) and control (15 participants). The experimental group receives 8 sessions of non-directive play therapy based on the Kaduson and Schaefer (2001) protocol.
Participants/Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria
Be between 7 and 11 years old.
Have a diagnosis of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) confirmed by a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist based on DSM-5 criteria.
Be enrolled in elementary school (grades one to five).
Exclusion Criteria
Have a severe physical problem that interferes with the research process.
Have a confirmed diagnosis of another disorder besides ADHD, such as severe anxiety disorders, other unrelated behavioral disorders, or neuropsychological disorders that may affect the results.
Have severe physical or psychological problems that impair participation in sessions, such as severe motor disability, speech impairment, or serious cognitive disorders.
Intervention groups
Intervention Group: Non-directive play therapy; participants will receive non-directive play therapy sessions over 8 sessions, according to the Kaduson and Schaefer (2001) protocol.
Control Group: They will not receive any intervention.
Main outcome variables
Loneliness; Social Anxiety; Aggression.
General information
Reason for update
Acronym
IRCT registration information
IRCT registration number:IRCT20260501069223N1
Registration date:2026-05-05, 1405/02/15
Registration timing:prospective
Last update:2026-05-05, 1405/02/15
Update count:0
Registration date
2026-05-05, 1405/02/15
Registrant information
Name
Mahsa Heidari
Name of organization / entity
Country
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Phone
+98 930 749 8065
Email address
mahsaheidari980000@yahoo.com
Recruitment status
recruiting
Funding source
Expected recruitment start date
2026-06-05, 1405/03/15
Expected recruitment end date
2026-07-06, 1405/04/15
Actual recruitment start date
empty
Actual recruitment end date
empty
Trial completion date
empty
Scientific title
The Effectiveness of Non-Directive Play Therapy Training on Loneliness, Social Anxiety, and Aggression in Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorde
Public title
The Effectiveness of Play Therapy Training
Purpose
Education/Guidance
Inclusion/Exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria:
Be between 7 and 11 years old.
Have a diagnosis of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) confirmed by a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist based on DSM-5 criteria.
Be enrolled in elementary school (grades one to five).
Have the cognitive and communicative ability to participate in group or individual play therapy sessions.
Exclusion criteria:
Have a severe physical problem that interferes with the research process.
Have a confirmed diagnosis of another disorder besides ADHD, such as severe anxiety disorders, other unrelated behavioral disorders, or neuropsychological disorders that may affect the results.
Participate in other therapeutic, psychological training, or play therapy programs during the study period.
Have severe physical or psychological problems that impair participation in sessions, such as severe motor disability, speech impairment, or serious cognitive disorders.
Have sensory problems or specific disabilities that interfere with play therapy activities (such as visual or hearing impairments, or severe physical disabilities without possible adaptation).
Age
From 7 years old to 11 years old
Gender
Both
Phase
N/A
Groups that have been masked
Care provider
Outcome assessor
Data analyser
Sample size
Target sample size:
30
Randomization (investigator's opinion)
Randomized
Randomization description
In this study, in order to achieve completely random allocation and eliminate any researcher involvement or bias, the simple randomization method will be used. First, a complete list of children referred to the counseling center who meet the inclusion criteria for the study will be prepared. Then, an initial numerical identification code will be assigned to each of these individuals. These codes will be entered into a Random Number Generator software. The software will generate a unique random number for each individual. After the numbers are generated, the participants will be listed in ascending order based on the value of the random number. Then, sequentially, the first to the fifteenth individuals on the list will be assigned to the experimental group and the sixteenth to the thirtieth individuals will be assigned to the control group. This process will be designed in such a way that the order of entry or the researcher’s familiarity with the participants will have no role in the allocation process, and it will not be possible to predict the group of any individual before the completion of randomization.
Blinding (investigator's opinion)
Double blinded
Blinding description
In this study, clinical caregivers, the outcome assessor, and data analysts are blinded to the study group allocation, and the information will be coded.
Placebo
Not used
Assignment
Parallel
Other design features
Secondary Ids
empty
Ethics committees
1
Ethics committee
Name of ethics committee
Ethics Committee of Islamic Azad University of Ahvaz
Street address
Islamic Azad University of Ahvaz, Farhang Shahr.
City
Ahvaz
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
6134937333
Approval date
2026-02-28, 1404/12/09
Ethics committee reference number
IR.IAU.AHVAZ.REC.1405.007
Health conditions studied
1
Description of health condition studied
Hyperactivity
ICD-10 code
F90
ICD-10 code description
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorders
Primary outcomes
1
Description
Loneliness
Timepoint
before performing the intervention and two weeks after completion of the intervention
Method of measurement
Asher and Wheeler’s Loneliness Questionnaire (1985)
2
Description
Social anxiety
Timepoint
before performing the intervention and two weeks after completion of the intervention
Method of measurement
Reynolds and Richmond Social Anxiety Questionnaire (1978)
3
Description
Aggression
Timepoint
before performing the intervention and two weeks after completion of the intervention
Method of measurement
Eysenck and Wilson Aggression Questionnaire (1975)
Secondary outcomes
empty
Intervention groups
1
Description
Intervention group: Non‑directive play therapy is an approach that allows the child to freely express his or her feelings and problems during play without direct guidance from the therapist. In this method, the therapist mainly plays the role of an observer and supporter and only provides a safe and accepting environment so that the child can express himself or herself in a natural way. The aim of this method is to strengthen the child’s self‑confidence, self‑awareness, and resolution of psychological problems through experience and free expression in the play setting. In this study, non‑directive play therapy sessions will be conducted in 8 sessions, according to the Kaduson and Schaefer (2001) protocol.
Category
Behavior
2
Description
Control group: They do not receive any intervention or treatment.
Category
N/A
Recruitment centers
1
Recruitment center
Name of recruitment center
Rayan Counseling and Psychological Center
Full name of responsible person
Mahsa Heidari
Street address
1st floor, Mahtab Complex, between East 4th and 5th Streets, Kianpars.
City
Ahvaz
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
6155867347
Phone
+98 61 3392 1294
Email
mahsaheidari980000@yahoo.com
Sponsors / Funding sources
1
Sponsor
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University
Full name of responsible person
Aslan Aghdarnajad
Street address
Islamic Azad University of Ahvaz, Farhang Shahr.
City
Ahvaz
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
6134937333
Phone
+98 61 3334 8421
Email
a_eigder@yahoo.com
Grant name
Grant code / Reference number
Is the source of funding the same sponsor organization/entity?
Yes
Title of funding source
Islamic Azad University
Proportion provided by this source
100
Public or private sector
Public
Domestic or foreign origin
Domestic
Category of foreign source of funding
empty
Country of origin
Type of organization providing the funding
Academic
Person responsible for general inquiries
Contact
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University
Full name of responsible person
Mahsa Heidari
Position
Master’s student
Latest degree
Bachelor
Other areas of specialty/work
Psychology
Street address
No. 9, Shahid Raeesi Alley, Emam St
City
Mahshahr
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
6351916575
Phone
+98 930 749 8065
Email
mahsaheidari980000@yahoo.com
Person responsible for scientific inquiries
Contact
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University
Full name of responsible person
Mahsa Heidari
Position
Master’s student
Latest degree
Bachelor
Other areas of specialty/work
Psychology
Street address
No. 9, Shahid Raeesi Alley, Emam St
City
Mahshahr
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
6351916575
Phone
+98 930 749 8065
Email
mahsaheidari980000@yahoo.com
Person responsible for updating data
Contact
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University
Full name of responsible person
Mahsa Heidari
Position
Master’s student
Latest degree
Bachelor
Other areas of specialty/work
Psychology
Street address
No. 9, Shahid Raeesi Alley, Emam St
City
Mahshahr
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
6351916575
Phone
+98 930 749 8065
Email
mahsaheidari980000@yahoo.com
Sharing plan
Deidentified Individual Participant Data Set (IPD)
No - There is not a plan to make this available
Justification/reason for indecision/not sharing IPD
Participant data is completely confidential and I do not intend to publish it.
Study Protocol
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Statistical Analysis Plan
No - There is not a plan to make this available
Informed Consent Form
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Clinical Study Report
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available