Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Early-Onset Depression
Study Details
Study Description
Brief Summary
Depression is a debilitating illness affecting large numbers of young people. In this study, children and adolescents ages 10 to 17 meeting criteria for clinical depression will participate in a 15-session group therapy (cognitive behavioral therapy or CBT) that teaches strategies for overcoming depressed mood. For half the participants, their parents will also participate in a parent group. By studying the role of parental involvement, we hope to develop more effective treatments for depressed children and teens in the future.
| Condition or Disease | Intervention/Treatment | Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
N/A |
Detailed Description
Depression is a debilitating illness affecting large numbers of young people. Psychotherapy approaches have shown some promise in teens, but few studies have examined these interventions when offered in a group format. The role of parents in treatment outcome has also received little attention.
In this study, children and adolescents ages 10 to 17 meeting criteria for clinical depression will participate in a 15-session group therapy (cognitive behavioral therapy or CBT) that teaches strategies for overcoming depressed mood. For half the participants, their parents will also participate in a parent group to help them better manage their depressed children and teens. We will randomly assign children to CBT with or without parental involvement. We hope to show that involving parents results in additional improvements in the children. We will also study factors that predict which children do best in treatment, and maintenance of gains at 6 month and 1 year follow-up. These findings will allow us to provide more effective treatments to depressed children and teens in the future.
Study Design
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcome Measures
- Diagnosis on structured interview [pre and post-intervention]
- Children's Depression Inventory score [pre- and post-intervention]
Secondary Outcome Measures
- Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children [pre- and post-intervention]
- Children's Global Assessment Scale [pre- and post-intervention]
- Brief Family Assessment Measure [pre- and post-intervention]
- Perceived Competence Scale for Children [pre- and post-intervention]
Eligibility Criteria
Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Children and adolescents meeting DSM-IV criteria for either Major Depression or Dysthymic Disorder.
Exclusion Criteria:
-
Psychotic,
-
Actively suicidal,
-
IQ less than 80,
-
Unable to speak English
Contacts and Locations
Locations
| Site | City | State | Country | Postal Code | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Centre for Addiction and Mental Health | Toronto | Ontario | Canada | M5T 1R8 |
Sponsors and Collaborators
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Investigators
- Principal Investigator: Katharina Manassis, MD, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Study Documents (Full-Text)
None provided.More Information
Additional Information:
Publications
- Birmaher B, Brent DA, Kolko D, Baugher M, Bridge J, Holder D, Iyengar S, Ulloa RE. Clinical outcome after short-term psychotherapy for adolescents with major depressive disorder. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2000 Jan;57(1):29-36.
- Birmaher B, Ryan ND, Williamson DE, Brent DA, Kaufman J, Dahl RE, Perel J, Nelson B. Childhood and adolescent depression: a review of the past 10 years. Part I. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 1996 Nov;35(11):1427-39. Review.
- Birmaher B, Ryan ND, Williamson DE, Brent DA, Kaufman J. Childhood and adolescent depression: a review of the past 10 years. Part II. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 1996 Dec;35(12):1575-83. Review.
- CBT DEP
- Ethics # 138/2001