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.
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.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
185
BCBT: 8-12 sessions over 16 weeks of cognitive-behavioral therapy administered by Master's-level clinicians in primary care setting
SMHC: specialty mental health care referrals provided
San Diego State University
San Diego, California, United States
Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinics
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Clinical Global Impression
Time frame: measured at baseline (week 0)
Clinical Global Impression
Time frame: measured at post-treatment (week 16)
Clinical Global Impression
Time frame: measured at 8 month follow-up (week 32)
Pediatric Anxiety Rating Scale
Time frame: measured at baseline (week 0)
Children's Depression Rating Scale - Revised
Time frame: measured at baseline (week 0)
Health Utilities Index
This measure will aid in cost-effectiveness analyses.
Time frame: measured at baseline (week 0)
Pediatric Anxiety Rating Scale
Time frame: measured at post-treatment (week 16)
Pediatric Anxiety Rating Scale
Time frame: measured at 8 month follow-up (week 32)
Children's Depression Rating Scale - Revised
Time frame: measured at post-treatment (week 16)
Children's Depression Rating Scale - Revised
Time frame: measured at 8 month follow-up (week 32)
Health Utilities Index
This measure will aid in cost-effectiveness analyses.
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.
Time frame: measured at post-treatment (week 16)
Health Utilities Index
This measure will aid in cost-effectiveness analyses.
Time frame: measured at 8 month follow-up (week 32)