Kent and Medway recognised for contribution to national autism anxiety research trial
Date added: 30 April 2026
Last updated: 30 April 2026
Autistic children and young people from Kent and Medway are to benefit from new treatment for anxiety, after more than 10 local families joined an innovative new trial.
Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust’s Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs), supporting children and young people across Kent and Medway, have been recognised for their contribution to the STAR-CAT research trial, which is testing new approaches to improve access to treatment for anxiety in Autistic children aged 5 to 12, without reducing the effectiveness of care.
The team is being recognised after successfully randomising more than 10 families into the study, marking an early milestone in recruitment for the trial. This reflects strong engagement from services and families at this stage of the research.
The Supporting Parents and their Autistic Children through Anxiety Treatment (STAR-CAT) study is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and is being led by researchers at the University of Oxford. The study brings together experts from psychiatry, experimental psychology and the Primary Care Clinical Trials Unit.
Dr Eleanor Constant, Clinical Lead and Principal Clinical Psychologist at Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust said: “Our team has worked incredibly hard to support families taking part in STAR-CAT. Being named ‘Team of the Week’ reflects our team’s commitment to research and to improving outcomes for Autistic children with anxiety. It is fantastic to see families engaging with the study and helping to shape future care.”
The trial is testing an online, parent-led programme called OSI-A to see whether it can improve access to treatment for anxiety in Autistic children. Families taking part are randomly allocated to either the OSI-A programme or to treatment as usual, which is the standard support provided by local child mental health services. All families are followed up at 6 and 12 months, and some are invited to take part in interviews to share their experiences.
The OSI-A programme is designed to help parents support their child’s anxiety through structured online guidance to understand whether this approach can make treatment more accessible, particularly for families who may struggle to access traditional therapy.
The Mental Health Support Teams in Kent and Medway play a key role in supporting schools and families with early mental health intervention, and their involvement in STAR-CAT reflects a wider commitment to improving evidence-based care for children and young people.
STAR-CAT continues to recruit families across participating services to build a stronger evidence base for supporting Autistic children with anxiety.
