FIRST Psychotherapy for Youth Mental Health Issues
Trial Summary
Will I have to stop taking my current medications?
The trial information does not specify whether participants must stop taking their current medications.
What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment FIRST for youth mental health issues?
The FIRST treatment, tested in community clinics with youths aged 7-15, showed positive results in terms of feasibility, acceptability, and clinical benefit. The study reported improvements in mental health symptoms, with effect sizes ranging from .41 to 2.66, indicating that the treatment was effective in reducing problems identified as important by caregivers and youths.12345
Is FIRST Psychotherapy safe for youth mental health issues?
Research on psychotherapy, including treatments like FIRST, shows that adverse events (unwanted effects) can occur in more than one in ten participants, with serious events happening in more than one in 21 participants. However, the way these events are recorded and reported varies, making it hard to compare results across studies.678910
How is the FIRST treatment different from other treatments for youth mental health issues?
The FIRST treatment is unique because it is a flexible, transdiagnostic approach that uses five key principles to address a range of mental health issues in youth, rather than focusing on a single disorder. This makes it adaptable to the changing needs of young people with multiple mental health challenges.111121314
What is the purpose of this trial?
The study will compare the impact FIRST (a transdiagnostic treatment built upon five empirically supported principles of change) versus usual care outpatient psychotherapy on youths' mental health outcomes and a candidate mechanism of change: regulation of negative emotions.
Eligibility Criteria
This trial is for children aged 7 to almost 16 who show signs of anxiety, depression, conduct issues, or post-traumatic stress but are generally in English-speaking classes. It's not for kids at immediate suicide risk, with eating disorders, schizophrenia-related conditions, autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disabilities needing special school classes or those referred only for ADHD symptoms.Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Timeline
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Treatment
Participants receive either the FIRST transdiagnostic treatment or Usual Care (UC) for mental health issues
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment
Treatment Details
Interventions
- FIRST
- Usual Care
FIRST is already approved in United States, Canada for the following indications:
- Anxiety disorders
- Depressive disorders
- Conduct-related disorders
- Anxiety disorders
- Depressive disorders
- Conduct-related disorders
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
Harvard University
Lead Sponsor
University of Texas at Austin
Collaborator