Coping Skills Program for Depression

Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)

+4 other locations

Overseen byMartha E Wadsworth, PhD

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Travel: May Be Covered

Time Reimbursement: Varies

Trial Phase: Academic

Waitlist Available

Sponsor: Penn State University

No Placebo Group

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

The goal of this clinical trial is to the efficacy of the Building a Strong Identity and Coping Skills intervention within a sample of low-income and minoritized youth aged 11-14 who are seeking mental health treatment and have been placed on a waitlist to receive services. The aims of this study are to: (1) confirm the efficacy of BaSICS by replicating previous findings, (2) Examine the changes of coping mechanisms and symptom change over the course of the BaSICS intervention, and (3) test models of physiologic stress reactivity and regulation to capture biological "risk" and recalibration. Cohorts of 20 participants will randomly be enrolled in either the intervention (10) or control (10) groups. Participants enrolled in the intervention group will complete the BaSICS program and participants enrolled in the no intervention group will not be enrolled in the intervention program. The BaSICS program is designed to help treat anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress symptoms and disorders and have direct effects on physiologic stress response systems (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis). Researchers will compare the intervention and no intervention groups to see if there is a difference in the reduction of markers for anxiety, depression, and suicide scores, changes in coping mechanism, and HPA reactivity profiles

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for English-speaking children aged 11-14 from low-income families who are experiencing chronic stress, depression, or anxiety. They must not have an intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, high suicidal risk, or severe depression.

Inclusion Criteria

Family income at or below 200% federal poverty level

I am between 11 and 14 years old.

My child speaks English.

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Exclusion Criteria

Intellectual disability

High suicidal risk (score of 17 or more on the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview for Children and Adolescents (MINI-Kid))

I have severe depression, as indicated by my PHQ score.

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Treatment Details

Interventions

Building a Strong Identity and Coping Skills (Behavioral Intervention)

Trial OverviewThe study tests the 'Building a Strong Identity and Coping Skills' (BaSICS) program on youth waiting for mental health treatment. It aims to replicate previous positive results and examine changes in coping skills and stress response systems.

Participant Groups

2Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Active Control

Group I: BaSICS InterventionExperimental Treatment1 Intervention

Intervention = Building a String Identity and Coping Skills (BaSICS). Children randomized to participate in 16 twice weekly BaSICS intervention sessions. Children learn coping skills, identity development, and collective action as ways to buffer against chronic stress. These children also complete pre- and post-intervention assessments, as well as 6-month and 12-month follow-up assessments.

Group II: ControlActive Control1 Intervention

These children complete assessments only--timed to coincide with the intervention groups' assessments: pre- and post-intervention assessments, as well as 6-month and 12-month follow-up assessments. No intervention.