N/A
N=91
Mobile-enhanced Group CBT for Adolescents at Risk Severe Mood Disorders
Adolescents · Mood Disorders
Bottom Line
View on ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04887155 ↗Enrolled (actual)
91
Serious AEs
0.0%
Results posted
May 2025
Primary outcome: Primary: Treatment Skill Practice — 16.1; 56.2; 44.3 treatment skill practices
Study Design & Population
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- N/A
- Interventions
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) (Behavioral)
- Age
- Pediatric · 13+ yrs
- Sex
- All
- Sponsor
- University of California, Los Angeles
- Primary completion
- Mar 2024
Outcome Measures
| Outcome | Result | p-value |
|---|---|---|
| PRIMARY Treatment Skill Practice |
16.1; 56.2; 44.3 | — |
| PRIMARY Psychosocial Treatment Compliance Scale |
64.6; 66.42; 67.83 | — |
| PRIMARY Mobile Application Use |
8.8; 9.6 | — |
| SECONDARY Mobile Application Usability Scale |
3.9; 4.3 | — |
| SECONDARY Children's Depression Rating Scale, Revised |
44.2; 45.7; 46.2; 36.3; 36.8; 35.9 | — |
| SECONDARY Young Mania Rating Scale |
10.1; 10.3; 9.6; 9.2; 7.3; 6.0 | — |
| SECONDARY Clinical Global Assessment Scale |
57.9; 47.7; 44.5; 65.2; 54; 58.1 | — |
| SECONDARY Clinical Global Impression |
4.0; 4.5; 4.4; 3.6; 3.5; 3.4 | — |
| SECONDARY Symptom Checklist 90 |
104.4; 135.0; 106.4; 100.3; 105.2; 86.5 | — |
| SECONDARY Difficulties With Emotion Regulation |
106.0; 101.9; 99.5; 103.22; 97.7; 90.9 | — |
| SECONDARY KINDL |
105.7; 90.63; 95.13; 104.4; 97.3; 97.5 | — |
| SECONDARY Depression Anxiety & Stress Scale |
20.5; 12.97; 11.7; 19.2; 12.5; 11.5 | — |
Summary
Although cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) has shown efficacy in reducing symptoms and rates of mood relapse in adolescents at high risk for severe mood disorders (SMD; i.e., bipolar I/II disorder and recurrent or unremitting major depression), a significant limitation to the CBT's efficacy is the low rate of participant adherence to the prescribed between-session homework tasks. Mobile health applications have the potential to improve adherence to and acceptance of treatment through embedded treatment content, skill-practice, thought and symptom monitoring, all of which are facilitated by reward contingencies and notifications. This study examines whether a mobile application-enhanced CBT can improve participant adherence and treatment acceptance for adolescents at high risk for SMD.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- Meet DSM-5 criteria for at least one past major depressive disorder, persistent depressive disorder, or unspecified bipolar disorder
- Be 13-17 years old
- English speaking and able to complete written questionnaires
- Ability to attend pre-determined group session time(s)
- Access to a smartphone to engage with the study app
- Medication usage is acceptable, but not required
Exclusion Criteria
- Regular use or current abuse of a psychoactive drug
- Evidence of behavioral problems that are thought to interfere with group treatment
- Suicidality that requires more intensive treatment
- Meeting DSM 5 criteria for bipolar I or II disorder, a psychotic disorder, or significant psychiatric symptoms (e.g., self-injurious behavior) that require more intensive treatment
- Concurrent participation in cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Inability to travel to study sessions and assessments
Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04887155). Outcome figures and adverse-event rates are extracted automatically from the registry's posted results and are provided for clinician reference, not as a substitute for the primary publication.