Coping Skills Program for Depression
Trial Summary
Will I have to stop taking my current medications?
The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.
What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Building a Strong Identity and Coping Skills for depression?
Research suggests that having strong personal and environmental resources can help people use more active coping strategies, which are linked to better outcomes in dealing with depression. Additionally, programs like STAIRS, which focus on personal recovery and coping skills, have shown positive changes in daily life and social interactions for people recovering from depression.12345
How is the Building a Strong Identity and Coping Skills treatment different from other depression treatments?
The Building a Strong Identity and Coping Skills (BaSICS) treatment is unique because it focuses on teaching coping skills, social identity development, and collective social action, specifically empowering individuals to connect with their communities and manage stress in positive ways. This approach is particularly novel as it reduces reliance on avoidant coping and addresses both psychological and biological stress responses, which is not commonly emphasized in traditional depression treatments.678910
What is the purpose of this trial?
The goal of this clinical trial is to the efficacy of the Building a Strong Identity and Coping Skills intervention within a sample of low-income and minoritized youth aged 11-14 who are seeking mental health treatment and have been placed on a waitlist to receive services.The aims of this study are to: (1) confirm the efficacy of BaSICS by replicating previous findings, (2) Examine the changes of coping mechanisms and symptom change over the course of the BaSICS intervention, and (3) test models of physiologic stress reactivity and regulation to capture biological "risk" and recalibration.Cohorts of 20 participants will randomly be enrolled in either the intervention (10) or control (10) groups. Participants enrolled in the intervention group will complete the BaSICS program and participants enrolled in the no intervention group will not be enrolled in the intervention program. The BaSICS program is designed to help treat anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress symptoms and disorders and have direct effects on physiologic stress response systems (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis). Researchers will compare the intervention and no intervention groups to see if there is a difference in the reduction of markers for anxiety, depression, and suicide scores, changes in coping mechanism, and HPA reactivity profiles
Research Team
Martha E Wadsworth, PhD
Principal Investigator
Penn State University
Eligibility Criteria
This trial is for English-speaking children aged 11-14 from low-income families who are experiencing chronic stress, depression, or anxiety. They must not have an intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, high suicidal risk, or severe depression.Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Timeline
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Treatment
Participants in the intervention group complete 16 twice-weekly BaSICS sessions focusing on coping skills, identity development, and collective action
Follow-up
Participants complete pre- and post-intervention assessments, as well as 6-month and 12-month follow-up assessments to monitor changes in anxiety, depression, coping skills, and HPA reactivity
Treatment Details
Interventions
- Building a Strong Identity and Coping Skills
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
Penn State University
Lead Sponsor