The proposed study is a randomized controlled trial (RCT) that aims to examine the effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy in reducing depressive and anxiety symptoms for youths in Hong Kong. It is to be carried out with 120 youths aged 12 - 24 recruited from a series of community-based LevelMind@JC hubs, funded by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust. It is designed to improve the youths' abilities/ skills in handling moods to have better emotional management. A written informed consent will be signed by participants. Researchers will perform cognitive behavioural therapy on youths who agree to join the study.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
128
CBT is a well-established, evidence-based intervention frequently used for easing depressive and anxiety symptoms. The intervention will be delivered for 6-7 sessions, each session lasts for 1.5 hours, in the format of a group for a period of 6-7 weeks by frontline social or youth workers trained by professional CBT clinicians. Core treatment components include mood monitoring, emotion education, behavioural activation, emotion cycle/ ABC model, identification of automatic thoughts, and cognitive restructuring. It is designed to improve youths' abilities/ skills in handling their moods to have better emotional management.
Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong
Hong Kong, Hong Kong
RECRUITINGChange in depressive and anxiety levels
Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS), scores ranging from 0-42 for each subscale, with higher scores representing worse outcome
Time frame: Baseline, after 7 weeks of intervention/wait, and 1 month after post-intervention
Change in social anxiety levels
Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS), scores ranging from 0-80 with higher scores representing higher levels of social anxiety hence worse outcome
Time frame: Baseline, after 7 weeks of intervention/wait, and 1 month after post-intervention
Change in depressive levels
Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), scores ranging from 0-27 with higher scores representing higher depressive levels hence worse outcome
Time frame: Baseline, after 7 weeks of intervention/wait, and 1 month after post-intervention
Change in distress levels
Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6), scores ranging from 0-25 with higher scores representing higher distress hence worse outcome
Time frame: Baseline, after 7 weeks of intervention/wait, and 1 month after post-intervention
Change in depressive symptoms
Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II), scores ranging from 0-63 with higher scores representing severe depressive symptoms hence worse outcome
Time frame: Baseline, after 7 weeks of intervention/wait, and 1 month after post-intervention
Change in anxiety symptoms
Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), scores ranging from 0-36 with higher scores representing severe anxiety symptoms hence worse outcome
Time frame: Baseline, after 7 weeks of intervention/wait, and 1 month after post-intervention
Change in anxiety levels
Generalized Anxiety Stress Scale-7 (GAD-7), scores ranging from 0-21 with higher scores representing higher anxiety levels hence worse outcome
Time frame: Baseline, after 7 weeks of intervention/wait, and 1 month after post-intervention
Change in functioning
Role Functioning Scale (RFS), scores ranging from 1-28 with higher scores representing better functioning
Time frame: Baseline, after 7 weeks of intervention/wait, and 1 month after post-intervention
Change in social and occupational functioning
Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS), scores ranging from 0-100 with higher scores representing better functioning
Time frame: Baseline, after 7 weeks of intervention/wait, and 1 month after post-intervention
Change in quality of life
12-item Short Form Survey (SF-12), scores ranging from 0-100 with higher scores representing better quality of life
Time frame: Baseline, after 7 weeks of intervention/wait, and 1 month after post-intervention
Change in self-harm
Self-harming behaviour, plans and thoughts, recording as binary response (0=No, 1=Yes)
Time frame: Baseline, after 7 weeks of intervention/wait, and 1 month after post-intervention
Change in resilience
Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), scores ranging from 0-100 with higher scores indicating higher resilience
Time frame: Baseline, after 7 weeks of intervention/wait, and 1 month after post-intervention
Change in future outlook
Future Outlook Inventory (FOI), scores ranging from 1-70 with higher scores indicating greater degree of future consideration
Time frame: Baseline, after 7 weeks of intervention/wait, and 1 month after post-intervention
Change in self-esteem
Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale (RSE), scores ranging from 0-30 with higher scores indicating higher self-esteem
Time frame: Baseline, after 7 weeks of intervention/wait, and 1 month after post-intervention
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Change in mindfulness
Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), scores ranging from 1-6 with higher scores indicating higher mindful awareness
Time frame: Baseline, after 7 weeks of intervention/wait, and 1 month after post-intervention