Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Early-Onset Depression

Comprehensive Treatment for Depressed Youth: An Outcome Evaluation Study

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.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Major Depressive Disorder; Dysthymic Disorder
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

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 Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 30
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Canada
  • Ontario
    • Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5T 1R8
      • Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 10 years to 17 years (Child)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

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

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Diagnosis on structured interview	pre and post-intervention
Children's Depression Inventory score	pre- and post-intervention

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
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

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Katharina Manassis, MD, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• 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. doi: 10.1097/00004583-199611000-00011.
• 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. doi: 10.1097/00004583-199612000-00008.
• 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. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.57.1.29.

Helpful Links

• Website of American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: June 1, 2002
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 1, 2006
• Study Completion (Actual): June 1, 2006

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 12, 2004
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 12, 2004
• First Posted (Estimate): November 15, 2004

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): August 5, 2011
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 4, 2011
• Last Verified: August 1, 2011

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: depression; cognitive behavioral therapy; parenting; children and adolescents; group therapy
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Pathologic Processes; Mood Disorders; Depressive Disorder; Disease; Depressive Disorder, Major; Dysthymic Disorder
• Other Study ID Numbers: CBT DEP; Ethics # 138/2001