Clinical Trial: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Early-Onset Depression

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: Comprehensive Treatment for Depressed Youth: An Outcome Evaluation Study

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.

Detailed Summary:

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.


Sponsor: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Current Primary Outcome:

  • Diagnosis on structured interview [ Time Frame: pre and post-intervention ]
  • Children's Depression Inventory score [ Time Frame: pre- and post-intervention ]


Original Primary Outcome:

  • Diagnosis on structured interview
  • Children's Depression Inventory score


Current Secondary Outcome:

  • Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children [ Time Frame: pre- and post-intervention ]
  • Children's Global Assessment Scale [ Time Frame: pre- and post-intervention ]
  • Brief Family Assessment Measure [ Time Frame: pre- and post-intervention ]
  • Perceived Competence Scale for Children [ Time Frame: pre- and post-intervention ]


Original Secondary Outcome:

  • Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children
  • Children's Global Assessment Scale
  • Brief Family Assessment Measure
  • Perceived Competence Scale for Children


Information By: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Dates:
Date Received: November 12, 2004
Date Started: June 2002
Date Completion:
Last Updated: August 4, 2011
Last Verified: August 2011