Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Depression

Overseen By Jami F. Young, PhD

Age: < 18

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Disqualifiers: Suicidal ideation, Major medical illness, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 9

Duration: 6 weeks

45 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to test a program called Brief Interpersonal Psychotherapy-Adolescent Skills Training (B-IPT-AST) to help prevent depression in teens. The program teaches young people to improve communication and problem-solving skills, reducing conflicts and boosting social support. Adolescents with mild symptoms of depression and access to a phone or computer might be a good fit for this trial. Participants will either join the B-IPT-AST group sessions or continue with their usual mental health services.

As an unphased trial, this study offers teens a unique opportunity to enhance their mental health skills and contribute to valuable research.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether participants need to stop taking their current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

What prior data suggests that Brief Interpersonal Psychotherapy-Adolescent Skills Training (B-IPT-AST) is safe for adolescents?

Research has shown that Brief Interpersonal Psychotherapy - Adolescent Skills Training (B-IPT-AST) is generally easy for participants to handle. In past studies, teenagers who received this therapy showed fewer signs of depression and improved overall well-being after treatment. This suggests the therapy is safe and effective for reducing depression in teenagers. No reports of serious side effects have emerged, indicating it is likely a safe choice for those considering joining the trial. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about Brief Interpersonal Psychotherapy-Adolescent Skills Training (B-IPT-AST) because it focuses on teaching adolescents practical communication and problem-solving skills to improve their relationships and overall social functioning. Unlike traditional depression treatments that often rely on medication or long-term individual therapy, B-IPT-AST is a concise program with just one individual pre-group session, one individual mid-group session, and four group sessions, making it more accessible and less time-consuming. This approach empowers teenagers to decrease conflict and increase social support by applying learned strategies in real-life interactions, potentially preventing depression before it fully develops.

What evidence suggests that Brief Interpersonal Psychotherapy-Adolescent Skills Training (B-IPT-AST) might be an effective treatment for depression?

Research shows that Brief Interpersonal Psychotherapy-Adolescent Skills Training (B-IPT-AST), which participants in this trial may receive, helps reduce depression in teenagers. Studies have found that teens in similar programs experience fewer depression symptoms and function better overall. A review of multiple studies suggests this method can prevent depression and lower anxiety. The program teaches communication and problem-solving skills to enhance social relationships and reduce conflicts. Positive results have appeared both immediately after the program and in follow-up assessments. ^{3 4 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Molly F Davis, PhD

Principal Investigator

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

The iMATTER Project is for adolescents who might be at risk of depression. It's designed to see if a new program called B-IPT-AST can prevent depression when offered in primary care settings. The trial requires participants to have access to these services and not currently be receiving other specific psychological treatments.

Inclusion Criteria

Access to a phone, computer, and/or tablet to complete remote evaluations

English-speaking

Legal guardian permission (informed consent) and child consent/assent

Exclusion Criteria

Suicidal ideation or behaviors reported on the PHQ-9-M at their well-visit based on medical record review

I have not had serious thoughts about suicide in the past month.

I do not have any major illnesses or disabilities that would stop me from completing the study.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

1 visit (in-person)

Treatment

Participants receive Brief Interpersonal Psychotherapy-Adolescent Skills Training (B-IPT-AST) consisting of 1 individual pre-group session, 1 individual mid-group session, and 4 group sessions

6 weeks

6 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and other emotional outcomes

4 weeks

2 visits (in-person)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Brief Interpersonal Psychotherapy - Adolescent Skills Training (B-IPT-AST)

Trial Overview This study tests the effectiveness of a prevention program for adolescent depression called B-IPT-AST, compared with standard services (SAU). Adolescents are randomly assigned to either receive this new training or continue with their usual care, to see which helps more.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Brief Interpersonal Psychotherapy-Adolescent Skills Training (B-IPT-AST) Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Brief Interpersonal Psychotherapy-Adolescent Skills Training (B-IPT-AST) is an indicated group depression prevention program adapted from Interpersonal Psychotherapy-Adolescent Skills Training (IPT-AST). In B-IPT-AST, adolescents learn communication (e.g., using I statements, striking while the iron is cold) and interpersonal problem-solving strategies and apply these strategies to their relationships to decrease conflict, increase social support, and improve overall social functioning. B-IPT-AST consists of 1 individual pre-group sessions, 1 individual mid-group session, and 4 group sessions. Parents are invited to attend the mid-group session so the adolescents can apply the interpersonal strategies in a conversation with a parent.

Group II: Services as usual (SAU) Active Control 1 Intervention

Services as usual (SAU) involves any mental health services adolescents decide to receive in primary care or in the community. It is possible that adolescents in SAU may decide not to participate in any mental health services.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Lead Sponsor

Trials

749

Recruited

11,400,000+

The Klingenstein Third Generation Foundation

Collaborator

Trials

6

Recruited

1,400+

Citations

1. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37588027/

a systematic review and meta-analysis This meta-analysis showed that IPT-AST was effective in adolescents with depressive symptoms at post-prevention and at 6-month follow-up.

2. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1147864/full

The effectiveness of Interpersonal Psychotherapy ... A meta-analysis showed that IPT-A has a positive effect on alleviating depressive symptoms and preventing depression in adolescents (25).

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3564646/

Interpersonal Psychotherapy-Adolescent Skills Training In two studies, IPT-AST has demonstrated positive effects on depressive symptoms, depression diagnoses, anxiety symptoms, and overall functioning as compared to ...

4. cebc4cw.org cebc4cw.org/program/interpersonal-psychotherapy-adolescent-skills-training/detailed

Interpersonal Psychotherapy Adolescent Skills Training ... Results indicate that adolescents who received IPT-AST had significantly fewer depression symptoms and better overall functioning postintervention and at follow ...

5. acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1469-7610.2006.01667.x

Efficacy of Interpersonal Psychotherapy‐Adolescent Skills ... Results: Adolescents who received IPT-AST had significantly fewer depression symptoms and better overall functioning post-intervention and at ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5467441/

A Randomized Depression Prevention Trial Comparing ... Adolescents in IPT-AST showed significantly greater improvements in self-reported depressive symptoms and evaluator-rated overall functioning than GC ...

7. blueprintsprograms.org blueprintsprograms.org/programs/1349999999/interpersonal-psychotherapy-adolescent-skills-training/print/

Interpersonal Psychotherapy – Adolescent Skills Training An 8-week in-school program designed to reduce and prevent depressive symptoms in adolescents by improving communication skills and interpersonal relationships.

8. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1077722920301024

Cultural Considerations and Intervention Process This study utilized a qualitative approach to explore cultural and clinical differences in the implementation of Interpersonal Psychotherapy–Adolescent Skills ...