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Pragmatic Patient-oriented Extension Study of Dialectical Behavior Therapy Booster Sessions for Youth With and/or at Familial Risk for Bipolar Disorder

Pragmatic Patient-oriented Extension Study of Dialectical Behavior Therapy Booster Sessions for Youth With and/or at Familial Risk for Bipolar Disorder

Status
Recruiting
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05627492
Acronym
DB2
Enrollment
120
Registered
2022-11-25
Start date
2022-11-09
Completion date
2028-11-30
Last updated
2025-11-19

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Bipolar Disorder

Keywords

Youth, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Suicide, Psychotherapy

Brief summary

The study intervention is DBT adapted for youth with and/or at familial risk for bipolar disorder. Participants will have completed one full year of DBT in a previous study. This study is examining use of booster sessions. It is delivered in the form of individual sessions and skills sessions, based on the preference of the study participant. The study participant may also receive skills coaching via phone. There is no standard reference therapy/comparator against which the study intervention is being compared.

Detailed description

The study intervention is DBT adapted for youth with and/or at familial risk for bipolar disorder. Participants will have completed one full year of DBT in a previous study. This study is examining use of booster sessions. It is delivered in the form of individual sessions and skills sessions, based on the preference of the study participant. The study participant may also receive skills coaching via phone. DBT consists of four components: individual therapy sessions, skills sessions, skills coaching via phone, and consultation team. Given this study is an extension of an existing study of full DBT, the proposed intervention is not prescriptive; that is, we have opted not to dictate how many sessions participants will receive and/or when. Instead, we have opted to leave this decision for participants and their treatment providers to reach collaboratively. Participants, in consultation with their study therapist, will select the frequency of their booster sessions. This may include individual and/or skills sessions in addition to phone coaching for those who attend individual sessions at least once per month. DBT consultation will also remain a component of the treatment. This level of intervention seems appropriate, given that participants have completed a full year of DBT and thus may require a less intensive treatment for continued care. Moreover, it is important to give youth autonomy in treatment options to model health decision making for other life choices.

Interventions

DBT will be conducted over 2 years. Participants and their treatment providers will decide on the frequency of sessions collaboratively. This may include individual and/or skills sessions in addition to phone coaching for those who attend individual sessions at least once per month. DBT consultation will also remain a component of the treatment. Participants may choose skills training, conducted in approximately 60 minute meetings, and individual therapy conducted in approximately 60 minute sessions. Family participation in skills training is highly encouraged. Skills training may include: psychoeducation, mindfulness skills, emotion regulation skills, distress tolerance skills, interpersonal skills, and walking the middle path skills. Individual therapy sessions aim to aid the youth in applying skills in their daily lives. We adopt the standard DBT hierarchy of treatment targets.

Sponsors

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
14 Years to 25 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

The participant must meet all of the inclusion criteria to eligible for this clinical trial: 1. Has completed participation in the DB1 study (049-2021) or the DB3 study (009-2021); 2. English speaking; 3. Age 14 years, 0 months to 26 years, 11 months; 4. Meets diagnostic criteria for bipolar disorder by KSADS-PL(\< 20 years of age) OR SCID-5-RV (≥ 20 years of age) OR have a biological parent/sibling with BD (type I or II) confirmed via KSADS-PL or SCID-5-RV; 5. Followed by a psychiatrist who provides ongoing care; 6. If BD-I, taking ≥1 mood stabilizing medication (i.e., antimanic anticonvulsant, antipsychotic, and/or lithium); 7. Able and willing to give informed consent/assent to participate.

Exclusion criteria

An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this clinical trial: 1. A life-threatening medical condition requiring immediate treatment; 2. Current victim of sexual or physical abuse; 3. Current substance use disorder other than mild cannabis or alcohol use disorder; 4. Evidence of mental retardation, moderate to severe autism spectrum disorder, or organic central nervous system disorder by the K-SADS-PL, parent report, medical history, or school records that would interfere with active participation in DBT.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Total number of DBT sessions used during the study interval measured using the Therapy Tracking FormAt the end of study completion (five years)The Therapy Tracking Form will be used to document the date of the therapy session, type of session, session duration, content, and scheduled date for next therapy visit. This form will be completed by the study therapist after each therapy session.
Number of unscheduled/expedited DBT sessions that are required measured using the TherapyAt the end of study completion (five years)The Therapy Tracking Form will be used to document if the session was a scheduled session or an unscheduled/expedited session. This form will be completed by the study therapist after each therapy session.
Frequencies of different factors/circumstances leading to the need for unscheduled/expedited DBT sessions measured using the TherapyAt the end of study completion (five years)The Therapy Tracking Form will be used to document the reason for the unscheduled/expedited DBT session. This form will be completed by the study therapist after each therapy session.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in suicidality using the Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire (SIQ)12 months to 15 monthsYouth participants will complete the self-report Suicidal Ideation (SIQ), which is intended to identify participants whose level of suicidal ideation is severe enough to warrant further intervention. Each item is rated on a 7-point Likert-type scale (0= I never had this thought to 6=almost every day) and is used to indicate the frequency with which the participant experiences each thought.
Change in symptoms using the Adolescent Longitudinal Interval Follow-up Evaluation (ALIFE)12 months to 18 monthsThe Longitudinal Interval Follow-up Evaluation (LIFE) will provide a comprehensive cross-sectional and longitudinal picture of the symptomatic and psychosocial course and outcome of all participants in this study. Scores range from 0-3 on certain disorders and 0-6 for other disorders. High scores indicate high level of symptom impairment.
Change in suicidality using the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS)12 months to 18 monthsSuicidal events (past and over follow-up) will be assessed with the Pediatric Version of the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS). The C-SSRS has sound psychometric properties, yields ratings of widely accepted definitions of youth suicidal events, and was used in other pediatric treatment trials yielding standardized outcomes to compare across studies. This is a semi-structured interview that includes yes/no questions as well as narrative. It captures number of suicidal events as well as type and severity.
Adherence score for DBT booster sessions measured using a modified version of the Dialectical Behavior Therapy Adherence Checklist - Individual TherapyAt the end of study completion (five years)Video recordings will be rated for adherence using a modified version of the Dialectical Behavior Therapy Adherence Checklist - Individual Therapy (DBT AC-I) \[54\]. The 12 DBT strategy domains will be rated as yes/no: 1) structural strategies; 2) problem assessment strategies; 3) problem solving strategies; 4) contingency management strategies; 5) exposure strategies; 6) cognitive modification strategies; 7) validation strategies; 8) reciprocal communication strategies; 9) irreverent communication strategies; 10) dialectical strategies; 11) case management strategies; 12) protocols.
Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (18-item)15 monthsDuring follow-up visits, participants, parents, and/or siblings who are participating in therapy sessions will complete an 18-item Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire. This assesses clients' satisfaction of the service (responses range from quite dissatisfied to very satisfied) as well as whether or not the service addressed the clients' needs.
Change in use of DBT skills with the DBT Ways of Coping Checklist (DBT-WCCL)12 months to 15 monthsYouth participants will complete the DBT-WCCL, a 59-item questionnaire assessing the use of DBT skills and coping strategies. Participants indicate how often they engaged in the thought/behavior from 0= never used to 3= regularly used.
Change in temperament using the Conflict Behavior Questionnaire (CBQ)12 months to 15 monthsThe Conflict Behavior Questionnaire (CBQ) is a youth and parent 20-item self-report instrument that taps into conflict and negative communication between parents and their children. Items are rated as true or false. Higher scores indicate greater levels of conflict and negative communication.
Change in emotion regulation using the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS)12 months to 15 monthsYouth participants will complete the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation (DERS), a 36-item questionnaire assessing emotional dysregulation. Participants indicate how often each item applies to them on a scale from 1=almost never; 0-10 percent to 5= almost always; 91-100 percent.
Frequencies of specific DBT components (individual sessions, skills session, phone coaching) measured using the Therapy Tracking FormAt the end of study completion (five years)The Therapy Tracking Form will be used to document the type of therapy session and phone coaching use. This form will be completed by the study therapist after each therapy session.
Change in symptoms using the Structured Interview for DSM-IV Personality Disorders (SIDP-IV): Borderline Personality Disorder12 months to 18 monthsBorderline and antisocial personality symptoms will be assessed using the Structured Interview for DSM-IV Personality. The SID-P uses a semi structured interview format to assess for symptoms of personality disorders. Scores one each item range from 0 to 3 and high scores indicate symptoms of borderline personality disorder and levels of impairment.

Countries

Canada

Contacts

Primary ContactVanessa Rajamani, MSW
vanessa.rajamani@camh.ca416-535-8501
Backup ContactAmanda Moss, MSW
amanda.moss@camh.ca416-535-8501

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026