CBT+SCT: CBT Enhanced With Social Cognitive Training
Study Details
Study Description
Brief Summary
Depression in youth is a serious public health concern for which more personalized treatments are needed. This study will test the effect of an intervention aimed at enhancing depressed children's social cognitive capacities (e.g., ability to take another's perspective), thereby making treatment of depression in youth more efficient and effective. Participants in both the R61 (N=42) and R33 (N=82) will be youth between 12 and 17 years old currently experiencing a depressive disorder. Youth will be randomized to either an enhanced CBT intervention that teaches social cognitive skills, particularly social perspective taking and theory of mind as compared to CBT only. The primary target is improvement in the social cognitive skills at post treatment in the first trial (R61) and improvements in both social cognitive skills and depressive symptoms at post-treatment and at a 4-month follow-up (R33).
| Condition or Disease | Intervention/Treatment | Phase |
|---|---|---|
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N/A |
Detailed Description
Depression in youth is a recurrent and impairing disorder. Although some treatments have shown modest effects in children and adolescents (e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy -- CBT), there remains a critical need to build upon these therapies in order to reach even more youths with depression. One variable hypothesized to affect children's interpersonal relationships is their level of social cognitive development on abilities particularly relevant to social functioning and CBT (e.g., social perspective taking; theory of mind). The first RCT (R61) will test the efficacy of an intervention aimed at increasing children's social cognitive (SC) abilities.Youth (ages 12-17; N=42) with depression diagnoses or clinical levels of depressive symptoms (CESD > 20) will be randomized to either the social cognitive training enhanced CBT (SCT-CBT) or CBT only. Pre- and post-treatment evaluations will assess the social cognitions. In the second RCT (R33), we will conduct a replication trial with a new sample of 82 youth (ages 12-17) again randomized to SCT-CBT or CBT only. Youth will be evaluated with regard to the SC abilities (i.e., theory of mind), level of depressive symptoms, and social functioning at baseline, post-treatment, and at a 4-month follow-up (R33). Finally, in the R33 we will test if increases in SC abilities partially account for the relation between treatment condition and decreases in depression. If the SCT-CBT intervention significantly improves children's SC abilities and social functioning and decreases depression, then this will provide therapists with a more efficient and personalized treatment of depression in youth,
Study Design
Arms and Interventions
| Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
|---|---|
| Experimental: CBT+SCT Cognitive behavioral therapy plus social cognitive skills training (SCT) |
Behavioral: Cognitive behavior therapy with social cognitive training (CBT+SCT)
The cognitive behavioral therapy is based on Beck's cognitive therapy model for the treatment of depression. We will conduct individual therapy based on the Coping with Stress manual used in other depression treatment studies with adolescents. In addition, the investigators will teach the teen explicitly about theory of mind and social perspective taking during each session and we will use examples from their own life to help them learn the skills.
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| Active Comparator: CBT-only Cognitive behavioral therapy only (without SCT) |
Behavioral: CBT-only
The cognitive behavioral therapy is based on Beck's cognitive therapy model for the treatment of depression. The investigators will conduct individual therapy based on the Coping with Stress manual used in other depression treatment studies with adolescents.
|
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcome Measures
- Faux Pas Recognition Test (measured in both the R61 and R33) [week 12]
Faux Pas Recognition test measures the ability to identify and explain faux pas situations where a character unintentionally insults another person due to lack of knowledge about some key feature of the other character FP contains 10 Faux Pas and 10 control stories without a faux pas. Order of the stories is random. Stories are followed by 8 questions.
- Children Depression Rating Scale (CDRS) [R33] [week 12]
In the second RCT (R33), depression will be another primary outcome measured with the CDRS, which is an interview with the parent and teen, separately, about the youth's depressive symptoms during the last two weeks.
Other Outcome Measures
- Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ9) [week 12]
Self-report measure of the 9 main depressive symptoms that define a depressive episode
Eligibility Criteria
Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
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12- to 17-years-old
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diagnosis of a current depressive disorder (e.g., major depressive episode; persistent depressive disorder) or a score on the Children's Depression Rating Scale (CDRS) >= 40
Exclusion Criteria:
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ever met criteria for a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, autism, or conduct disorder
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current alcohol or substance use disorder with significant impairment
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imminent risk of suicide
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reading level < 4th grade
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estimated IQ<80
Contacts and Locations
Locations
| Site | City | State | Country | Postal Code | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Judy Garber | Nashville | Tennessee | United States | 37203 |
| 2 | Vanderbilt University | Nashville | Tennessee | United States | 37203 |
Sponsors and Collaborators
- Vanderbilt University
- National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Investigators
- Principal Investigator: Judy Garber, PhD, Vanderbilt University
Study Documents (Full-Text)
More Information
Publications
None provided.- R61MH115125
- 1R61MH115125-01A1