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Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Pediatric Anxiety and Depression in Primary Care

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Anxiety
Depression
Interventions
Behavioral: Specialty mental health care referral (SMHC)
Behavioral: Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (BCBT)
Registration Number
NCT01147614
Lead Sponsor
San Diego State University
Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine whether a brief (12 week) psychological treatment program, based in primary care, can help youths struggling with anxiety and/or depression. This brief cognitive behavioral therapy program will be compared to enhanced referral to specialty mental health care.

Detailed Description

Mood and anxiety disorders in childhood and adolescence are disabling, distressing, and prevalent and produce added costs to health systems. This two-site randomized controlled trial will test the effects of a brief cognitive behavioral therapy (BCBT) protocol (8-12 sessions) in a large sample (N=210) of children and adolescents (age 8-16) presenting with anxiety and/or depression in primary care. Clinical and cost-effectiveness of BCBT will be compared to a plausible public health alternative - enhanced referral to specialty mental health care (SMHC). This investigation is noteworthy in adopting a deployment-focused model and testing this intervention early in its development within a real world context (primary care) and against a plausible public health comparison condition (SMHC) relevant for future treatment dissemination.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
185
Inclusion Criteria
  • meet full or probable diagnostic criteria for Separation Anxiety Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Social Phobia, Major Depression, Dysthymic Disorder, or Minor Depression
  • age 8.0 to 16.9
  • live with legal, consenting guardian for at least 6 months
Exclusion Criteria
  • youths requiring alternate intervention (e.g., youths with bipolar disorder, psychosis, active suicidal ideation with plan, PTSD, substance dependence, current physical or sexual abuse, or mental retardation
  • suffer from serious or unstable physical illness (e.g., uncontrolled diabetes)
  • currently in active, alternate intervention for anxiety or depression (e.g., antidepressant use)

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
specialty mental health care referralSpecialty mental health care referral (SMHC)-
Brief Cognitive Behavioral TherapyBrief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (BCBT)-
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Clinical Global Impressionmeasured at 8 month follow-up (week 32)
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Health Utilities Indexmeasured at 8 month follow-up (week 32)

This measure will aid in cost-effectiveness analyses.

Pediatric Anxiety Rating Scalemeasured at 8 month follow-up (week 32)
Children's Depression Rating Scale - Revisedmeasured at 8 month follow-up (week 32)

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

San Diego State University

🇺🇸

San Diego, California, United States

Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinics

🇺🇸

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

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