Prior to a properly powered randomized controlled study, evaluating efficacy and cost-effectiveness of ICBT, we will conduct a pilot study to investigate if the trial design is feasible, if therapist-guided and self-guided internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT) is acceptable for adolescents with depression and to provide preliminary clinical efficacy data.
A single-blind parallel-group pilot randomised controlled feasibility trial with the overall aim to develop two internet-delivered cognitive behaviour therapy interventions, therapist-guided and self-guided, for adolescents with mild to moderate Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and their primary caregivers. Patients can be either referred or self-referred. All potential participants are initially screened via telephone. This is followed by a face-to-face inclusion assessment. Participants who are eligible and have consented will be randomized into one of three trial arms; therapist-guided ICBT, self-guided ICBT or TAU. In the experimental arms, participants, e.g. the adolescent and at least one caregiver, either receive 10 weeks of therapist-guided or self-guided internet-delivered behavioural activation (BA). In the control arm, participants receive treatment as usual within the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) or primary care clinics. The primary endpoint will be at 3-month follow-up. The primary objective is to evaluate the feasibility of the study design and trial procedures, including recruitment, withdrawal, drop out and attrition rates. The secondary objective is to (a) evaluate the acceptability of the ICBT interventions in regard to treatment satisfaction, credibility, reported adverse events, and program use, (b) to provide preliminary clinical efficacy data, and (c) to gather qualitative information on the experience of undergoing ICBT for depression from the perspective of adolescent patients, their caregivers and potential areas for improvement of future ICBT interventions.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
32
Participants will be assigned to a 10 weeks internet-delivered cognitive behavior therapy program with therapist support via an internet platform.
Participants will be assigned to a 10 weeks internet-delivered cognitive behavior therapy program without therapist support via an internet platform.
Participants randomized to TAU, will be referred to the local CAMH's or primary care unit for children and youths and will be free to receive any treatment, either psychosocial, medical or the combination of both.
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Research Center
Stockholm, Sweden
Children's Depression Rating Scale - Revised (CDRS-R)
CDRS-R is a semi-structured clinician interview, assessing level of depressive symptomatology. Total range is 17-113, with higher values representing a worse outcome. Change from baseline in depressive symptom severity on the CDRS-R at end of treatment, and at 3-months follow-up will be reported. Primary endpoint is 3 months follow-up.
Time frame: week 0, week 10, at 3 months follow-up
Treatment credibility and expectancy scale - adolescent and parent version
This scale consists of four qualitative questions about treatment credibility, asking how well the treatment suits adolescents with depression, how much they believe this treatment will help him/her, if and to what extent they would recommend this treatment to a friend with depression and how much improvement they expect from the treatment. Total range is 4-20, with higher values representing higher credibility. Mean in total treatment credibility score on the "Treatment credibility scale" for each treatment group at week 3 will be reported.
Time frame: week 3
The Client Satisfaction Questionnaire-8 (CSQ-8) - adolescent and parent version
The CSQ-8 is an 8-item self-rated 4-point scale, measuring different aspects of satisfaction with treatment, e.g. perception of quality of treatment, if the treatment adequately addressed their needs and overall satisfaction. Total range is 8 to 32, with higher values indicating higher satisfaction. Mean in total satisfaction scores on the CSQ-8 for each treatment group at end of treatment and at follow-up will be reported.
Time frame: week 10, at 3 months follow-up
Need for further treatment - adolescent and parent version
Investigate whether the participant considers her/himself in need of further treatment for her/his depression.
Time frame: week 10, at 3 months follow-up
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.
Negative Effects Questionnaire (NEQ-20) - adolescent and parent version
NEQ-20 investigate participants' negative effects of psychological treatments. Total range is 0-80, with higher values representing a worse outcome. Descriptive data in negative effects of treatments on the NEQ-20 will be reported for participants randomized to either of the ICBT interventions at mid treatment, after end of treatment and at 3 months follow-up.
Time frame: week 5, week 10, at 3 months-follow up
Treatment completion
Adherence in terms of numbers of completed chapters for patients and their parents respectively in the ICBT interventions will be reported after 10 weeks. This data will be collected from the IT platform that delivers the ICBT interventions.
Time frame: week 10
Therapist time
Total therapist time per patient an week will be reported for the ICBT interventions at the end of the pilot study. This data will be collected from the IT platform that delivers the ICBT interventions.
Time frame: week 1 to week 10
Clinical Global Impression Scale - Severity (CGI-S)
CGI-S is developed to assess how mentally ill a specific patient compared to a particular patient population (e.g. with major depressive disorder) at a certain time. It consists of a single item rated on a seven-point scale ranging from 1="no symptoms" to 7="extreme symptoms". Change from baseline in global severity of depressive symptoms on the CGI-S at end of treatment, and at 3 months follow-up will be reported.
Time frame: week 0, week 10, at 3 months follow-up
Clinical Global Impression - Improvement (CGI-I)
CGI-I is developed to assess improvement of psychiatric symptoms for a specific patient compared to baseline. It consists of a single item rated on a seven-point scale ranging from 1="very much improved" to 7="very much worse". Change from baseline in global improvement of depressive symptoms to end of treatment and at 3 months follow-up on the CGI-I will be reported.
Time frame: week 10, at 3 months follow-up
Children's global assessment scale (CGAS)
The CGAS is a single item 1-100 scale that integrates psychological, social, and academic functioning in children as a measure of psychiatric disturbance. Higher values represent a worse outcome. Change from baseline in global functioning CGAS to end of treatment and at 3 months follow-up will be reported.
Time frame: week 0, week 10, at 3 months follow-up
Short Mood and Feeling Questionnaire (SMFQ) - adolescent and parent version
The SMFQ is a 13-item self-reported measure of depressive symptoms. Total range is 0-26, with higher values representing a worse outcome. Change from baseline in adolescent- and parent-rated depressive symptoms on the SMFQ to week 10 and at 3 months follow-up, and weekly during treatment will be reported. Additionally, for this trial, we have also added a 14th item, aimed to assess suicide risk. This item is not included in the total score.
Time frame: week 0, weekly from week 1 to week 10, at 3 months follow-up
The Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale, short (RCADS-S) -adolescent and parent version
The RCADS-S, a shortened version of the Spence Child Anxiety Scale, is a child and parent self-report measure of anxiety- and depression-related psychopathology. Only the anxiety subscales are administered in this study, since depressive symptoms are measured thoroughly by other measures. Total range is 0-45, with higher values representing a worse outcome. Change from baseline in adolescent- and parent-rated depressive symptoms on the RCADS-S to end of treatment and at 3 months follow-up will be reported.
Time frame: week 0, week 10, 3 months follow-up
Affective Reactivity Index (ARI) - adolescent and parent version
ARI is a parent- and self-rated measure of irritability and impairment due to irritability. Total range is 0-12, with higher values representing a worse outcome. Change from baseline in adolescent- and parent-rated irritability and impairment due to irritability on the ARI to end of treatment, and at 3-months follow-up will be reported.
Time frame: week 0, week 10, 3 months follow-up
Insomnia Severity Index (ISI)
ISI, a brief screening measure of insomnia, a seven-item scale ranging from 0 to 28 points, with higher values representing a worse outcome. Change from baseline in sleep problems on ISI to end of treatment at 3 months follow-up will be reported.
Time frame: week 0, week 10, at 3 months follow-up
Work and Social Adjustment Scale, youth version (WSAS-Y) - adolescent and parent version
WSAS-Y is a parent- and adolescent-rated scale of impaired functioning in school, everyday life, friends and social life, recreation and hobbies and family and close relationships. The scale generates a global score ranging from 0 to 40, with higher scores indicating greater impairment. Change from baseline in adolescent- and parent rated impairment and functioning on the WSAS-Y will be reported at the end of treatment, and at 3 months follow-up.
Time frame: week 0, week 10, 3 months follow-up
Working Alliance Inventory, Short (WAI-S) - adolescent and parent version
The WAI-S is scale measuring the participants perceived working alliance with their therapist. Total range 12-84, with higher scores indicating a better working alliance. Descriptive data on participants' perceived working alliance with their therapist, or with the program for participants in the self-guided ICBT, on the WAI-S will be reported at end of treatment and at 3-months follow up.
Time frame: week 10, 3 months follow-up
Kidscreen-10 Index - adolescent and parent version
Kidscreen-10 assess the adolescents' general health-related quality of life. Total range from 10-50, with higher values indicating better health-related quality of life. Change from baseline in general health-related quality of life on the Kidscreen-10 will be reported at the end of treatment and at 3 months follow-up.
Time frame: week 0, week 10, at 3 months follow-up