Transdiagnostic Behavioral Activation Therapy for Youth Anxiety and Depression
Completed · Not applicable
Conditions studied: Depressive Disorder, Anxiety Disorders
In brief
Psychological therapies for depression have demonstrated efficacy, but outcomes are still unsatisfactory, especially in cases with high comorbidity. Depression and anxiety co-occur in up to 69-75% of teens and intensify functional impairment and service use. This study will develop treatment materials for a transdiagnostic Group Behavioral Activation Therapy (GBAT) and conduct a pilot waitlist-controlled school-based study with 35 7th and 8th grade boys and girls with co-occurring depression and anxiety. Multi-reporter, multi-domain assessments will be conducted at initial screening, pre- and post-treatment, and 4-month follow-up. BA is a straightforward, but flexible and robust, therapy that has demonstrated strong results in adults. Current formulations of BA highlight the specific role of avoidance in depressotypic behavior. It presumes that anhedonia, isolation, and negative behaviors associated with depression function to avoid imminent distress even as it blocks access to otherwise available positive reinforcement. This study will therefore employ novel electronic diary technology to obtain Ecological Momentary Assessment and evaluate: (a) the function of avoidance in distinguishing youth with depression (n=35) from a non-clinical comparison group (n=18), and (b) the role of avoidance in mediating treatment gains in participants in the GBAT intervention.
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT01829100
- Run by
- Rutgers University
- People needed
- 895
- Starts
- 2009-09-01
- Expected to finish
- 2012-06-01
- Last updated by the study team
- 2026-07-17
Who can join
Age: 11 and older, up to 15. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.
You may qualify if…
- clinical (ADIS CSR ≥ 4) or subclinical (ADIS CSR = 2-3) principal diagnosis of either a DSM-IV-TR unipolar depression disorder (Major Depressive Disorder ([MDD], Minor Depression [MinD], or Dysthymia [Dys]) or
- an anxiety disorder (Generalized Anxiety Disorder [GAD], Social Phobia [SOP], Separation Anxiety [SAD]).
You may not qualify if…
- any principal diagnosis other than anxiety or depression or parent report of mental retardation,
- pervasive developmental disorder,
- schizophrenia, or
- bipolar disorder, or
- report of past-year hospitalization for a suicide attempt. Concurrent use of antidepressant or anxiolytic medications was permitted as long as dosage was stable for at least four weeks and the family intended to maintain the dose.
Where it is running
- Rutgers University — Piscataway, New Jersey, United States
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
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