Get ActivE Study for At-risk Youth

Recruiting now · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Anhedonia, Depression and Suicide Ideation

In brief

The study will adapt and deploy a digital Behavioral Activation app with mobile sensing, supported by health coaches, that encourages youth to engage in positive activities. The study has the potential to offer a low-cost and scalable behavioral intervention that may decrease risk of suicide among at-risk youth. This research will examine specifically whether an intervention involving an app called Vira, combined with health coaching (GET ActivE) can improve enjoyment for teens coping with depression. Research participants will be randomly assigned to one of two study intervention. One study intervention involves a) downloading an app called Vira and engaging by responding to a daily question, and b) participating in a conversation via text, phone, or messages through an appt with a health coach. The health coach will use the Vira app and principles from evidence-based therapy and behavior change to provide users with insights to sustain well-being and better manage risk factors for suicidal thoughts and behaviors such as depressed mood and behavioral withdrawal. The second study intervention involves downloading an app called EARS and responding to a daily question.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT06829953

Run by

University of Pittsburgh

People needed

75

Starts

2025-03-27

Expected to finish

2026-12-31

Last updated by the study team

2026-06-04

Who can join

Age: 12 and older, up to 18. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Adolescents age 12-18
• Current moderate to severe depression (PHQ-9-M > 11)
• Current clinically significant anhedonia, operationalized as PHQ-9-M anhedonia item score > 1
• English language fluency and literacy level sufficient to engage in study protocol
• Willing to download the app on their smart phones

You may not qualify if…

• Evidence of mania, psychosis, or developmental disability precluding comprehension of study procedures per electronic health record review and phone screen.

Where it is running

• Children's Hospital of Philadelphia — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States (enrolling)
• University of Pittsburgh Medical Center — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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