Depression
Conditions
Keywords
Depression, Prevention, Adolescents
Brief summary
This study is a randomized controlled trial comparing Interpersonal Psychotherapy-Adolescent Skills Training (IPT-AST) to group counseling (GC) for the prevention of depression in adolescents. The project will: (1) identify adolescents with elevated depressive symptoms but who do not meet criteria for a current mood disorder diagnosis; (2) randomize eligible adolescents to either IPT-AST (N = 100) or GC (N = 100); (3) assess depressive symptoms, depressive disorders, global functioning, interpersonal functioning, comorbid conditions and school related indices at baseline, mid-intervention, post-intervention, and at 6-, 12-, 18-, and 24-month follow-up; (4) examine the effects of IPT-AST on depression and various domains of functioning at each time point; and (5) conduct analyses to examine potential mediators and moderators of the association between IPT-AST and depression outcomes. This study will yield data on the efficacy of IPT-AST relative to GC for the prevention of depressive symptoms and depressive disorders. It will also provide information about the mechanisms of action of IPT-AST and determine for whom IPT-AST is most effective.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALIPT-AST
A school-based group prevention program that includes 2 individual pre-group sessions, 8 weekly 90 minute group sessions, an individual mid-group session and 4 booster sessions
BEHAVIORALGroup Counseling
Usual group counseling as delivered by school counselors; 1 pre-group session, 1 mid-group session, 8 90-minute group sessions, 4 booster sessions
Sponsors
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Rutgers University
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
12 Years to 17 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* In 7th-10th grades at intake * Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale(CES-D) Score \> 16 * At least 2 symptoms on the K-SADS depression section (score of 2 or 3), one of which is either depressed mood, irritability, or anhedonia * Adolescent must be English-speaking * Parent speaks English or Spanish
Exclusion criteria
* CES-D Score \< 15 * Fewer than 2 depression symptoms on the K-SADS (score of 2 or 3) or 2 or more symptoms on the K-SADS with no report of depressed mood, irritability, or anhedonia * Suicide attempt or self-mutilation in the past year, current active suicidal ideation, and/or history of a clinically significant suicidal behavior (i.e., with intent to die and high medical lethality) or repeated patterns of self-injurious behavior * Presence of current Major Depressive Disorder, dysthymia, substance abuse, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, conduct disorder, or psychosis
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Presence of a Major Depressive Episode, Dysthymia or Depressive Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (NOS) on the Schedule for Affective Disorders for School Aged Children - Present and Life Time Version (K-SADS-PL) | Post intervention (approximately 3 months post baseline) | Presence of a depression diagnosis as measured by a semi-structured diagnostic evaluation |
| Presence of a Major Depressive Episode, Dysthymia or Depressive Disorder NOS on the K-SADS-PL | 6-months post-intervention | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Children's Depression Rating Scale-Revised (CDRS-R) | Post intervention (approximately 3 months after baseline) | Scores on the CDRS-R |
| Children's Depression Rating Scale-Revised | 6-months post-intervention | — |
| Children's Global Assessment Scale (CGAS) | Post intervention (approximately 3 months following baseline) | Assesses global functioning |
| Children's Global Assessment Scale | 6-months post-intervention | — |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed