Culturally Adapting CBT for Chinese Youth in Ontario

Improving Access to High Quality, Culturally Relevant Treatment for Chinese Youth in Ontario

This mixed methods study proposes a culturally adapted cognitive behavioural therapy (CA-CBT) model for a Chinese demographic in Canada. The client population of Chinese youth who have been diagnosed with anxiety and/or depression are the focus of the study. CBT has been proven as a very effective form of therapy, and when adapted can promote positive mental health outcomes for a growing and increasingly vulnerable population. Developing a culturally adapted version of CBT (CA-CBT) for this population adds a practical treatment that improves access to culturally relevant care.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Depression; Anxiety
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Detailed Description

There is a major lack of culturally relevant mental health services for Chinese youth in Ontario and Canada. Beginning with a participatory/qualitative research approach, common themes amongst clients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and community leaders, will divulge basic elements needed to develop a culturally adapted model of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. The information from the adapted model will be taught to participating psychologists who will deliver the therapy in a pre- and post- evaluation design, with feasibility testing of the intervention using a quantitative approach ensuing. Immediate guidelines will then be developed for use by therapists working with Chinese youth.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 36
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Canada
  • Ontario
    • Scarborough Village, Ontario, Canada, M1H 3C3
      • East Metro Youth Services

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 12 years to 21 years (Child, Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Self identification as Chinese origin
• Between the ages of 12 to 21
• Diagnosed as having depression and/or anxiety

Exclusion Criteria:

• Have been affected by psychosis
• Have been affected by serious addiction
• Have been affected by cognitive impairment

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Culturally adapted Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; The experimental group will receive the culturally adapted version of cognitive behavioral therapy.	Behavioral: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; The intervention will be administered by therapists working at community agencies who are experienced at providing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Severity levels of depression and anxiety rated by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).	Severity levels of depression and anxiety will be rated pre- and post-intervention by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The scale ranges from 0 to 21 for anxiety and 0 to 21 for depression. A score of 0 to 7 for depression and/or anxiety is considered a normal range. A score of 8 to 10 suggests the potential presence of depression and/or anxiety. A score of 11 or more suggests a likely presence of depression and/or anxiety.	4 months.
Severity levels of depression and anxiety rated by the Bradford Somatic Inventory (BSI).	Severity levels of depression and anxiety will be rated pre- and post-intervention by the Bradford Somatic Inventory (BSI). The Bradford Somatic Inventory uses "yes" or "no" questions relating to somatic symptoms of anxiety and/or depression. A "yes" response to a question equates to a somatic symptom linked to depression and/or anxiety. The maximum number of "yes" responses is 46 and the minimum is 0. A higher number of "yes" responses suggests a potential increase in the severity of depression and/or anxiety.	4 months.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Satisfaction of the culturally adapted Cognitive Behavioral Therapy assessed using the Verona Satisfaction Scale.	Satisfaction will be measured using the Verona Satisfaction Scale. This scale measures patients satisfaction with health care services. The items are rated by 4 categories labelled: "strongly disagree", "disagree", "agree", and "strongly agree", on a scale of 1 to 4. A higher sub-scale/domain score indicates better satisfaction. All sub-scales are summed up to compute total/domain score. This scale will be used to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the therapy service and provide guidance for further development.	4 months.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
• Collaborators: East Metro Youth Services; Hong Fook Mental Health Association; Ontario Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Farooq Naeem, M.D., Centre for Addiction and Mental Health; Study Director: Myra Levy, M.A., East Metro Youth Services

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 4, 2019
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 30, 2019
• Study Completion (Actual): December 30, 2019

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 11, 2018
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 16, 2018
• First Posted (Actual): October 18, 2018

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 28, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 23, 2026
• Last Verified: January 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Cultural Adaptation; Chinese Youth
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior; Anxiety Disorders; Depression; Behavior Therapy; Psychotherapy; Behavioral Disciplines and Activities; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Other Study ID Numbers: innovation-1927

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No