Family Based Treatment of Depressed Adolescents

NCT ID: NCT00700609

Last Updated: 2015-07-31

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: TERMINATED
• Clinical Phase: PHASE2
• Total Enrollment: 20 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2008-06-30
• Study Completion Date: 2009-12-31

Brief Summary

The purpose of this project is to assess the effectiveness of a family-based therapy (Attachment based family therapy-ABFT) for Norwegian adolescents (13-17 years) referred to specialist mental heath clinics.

Detailed Description

Depression is a major public health concern among adolescents. Research suggests that it not only is prevalent among adolescents (as many as 20% of adolescents have a depressive episode by the age of 18), but its effects last well into adulthood. Although available studies of psychosocial and pharmacological interventions show promise, there are concerns regarding their effectiveness and possible side effects like increase in suicidal ideation. Family conflict is not only an effect of depression, but also a risk factor for depression. High conflict and dysfunction, have consistently been shown to increase risk for depression. As such, family treatments that target risk and protective factors (e.g., quality of parent-child interaction, parental monitoring) for depression seem promising to reduce depression. The current study is a randomized clinical trail aimed at assessing the effectiveness of a 12-week family based intervention for depressed adolescents (Attachment based family therapy- ABFT). Adolescents referred to specialist mental health hospital in south-west Norway (Stavanger University Hospital) will be randomized to either ABFT or treatment as usual (TAU). Therapists administering both the experimental and control group intervention are regular staff clinicians. Outcome assessments would be carried out at baseline, 6, 12 and 26 weeks by raters blind to the condition of the treatment.

Conditions

Depressive Disorder; Mood Disorder; Major Depression

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

1

Attachment Based Family Therapy (ABFT)

ABFT developed by Dr. Guy Diamond and colleagues is a brief, 12 week, manualized family-based intervention.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Attachment Based Family therapy (ABFT)

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Attachment-Based Family Therapy (ABFT) is a brief manualized therapy designed exclusively for depressed adolescents and aims at reducing adolescent depression by improving family communication and trust.

2

Treatment as usual (TAU)

No attempt is made to standardize TAU. Regular clinical staff will provide mental health services.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Attachment Based Family therapy (ABFT)

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Attachment-Based Family Therapy (ABFT) is a brief manualized therapy designed exclusively for depressed adolescents and aims at reducing adolescent depression by improving family communication and trust.

Interventions

Attachment Based Family therapy (ABFT)

Attachment-Based Family Therapy (ABFT) is a brief manualized therapy designed exclusively for depressed adolescents and aims at reducing adolescent depression by improving family communication and trust.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Other Intervention Names

ABFT; TAU

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• 13-17 years
• Referred to specialist mental health hospital
• HAM-D score of >14
• Meets diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder or depression NOS
• Have a parent or guardian willing to participate

Exclusion Criteria

• Suicidal and require in-patient care
• Low intellectual abilities
• Current psychosis
• primary caregiver unwilling to participate

• Minimum Eligible Age: 13 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 17 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

The Research Council of Norway

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Helse Stavanger HF

OTHER_GOV

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Pravin Israel, Ph.D

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Helse Stavanger HF

Locations

Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Stavanger University Hospital

Stavanger, Rogaland, Norway

Countries

Norway

Other Identifiers

18651

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id