Trial Outcomes & Findings for Prevention of Adolescent Risky Behaviors: Neural Markers of Intervention Effects (NCT NCT03370393)

NCT ID: NCT03370393

Last Updated: 2026-01-26

Results Overview

Emotional regulation was assessed through parent and youth self-reported questionnaires using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function, Second Edition (BRIEF-2). T scores, normed for age and sex are available. T-score standardizes an individual's executive functioning difficulties relative to peers. For example, 50 is the population mean and a standard deviation of 10. Higher scores indicate more significant problems. Scores below 60 are within normal limits; 60-64: subclinical difficulties; 65-69: mildly elevated; 70-74: moderately elevated; and 75 or above: considered highly elevated, suggesting significant difficulties in emotion regulation. These questionnaires were administered at baseline (before intervention) and 3 months post-intervention. Because parent report may be less biased regarding youth's regulation, we used parent data for analysis. Data imputation was done for missing data.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

NA

Target enrollment

146 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

18 weeks (from pre-intervention to 3-months after post-intervention)

Results posted on

2026-01-26

Participant Flow

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Pathways for African-Americans' Success
Subjects completed a 6-week Pathways for African-Americans' Success (PAAS) intervention. This is a weekly, 1.5 hour/session, family intervention for 6 weeks. Pathways for African-Americans' Success (PAAS): PAAS is a 6-week, technology-delivered, family-based youth risk intervention program. PAAS includes 6 sessions for parents and youth, and joint sessions in which they both engage on the same computer to integrate and practice the skills they have just learned in their separate sessions. Each session includes a review, a virtual discussion, and observing and interacting with four parent and four youth Avatars that reflect phenotypes of African Americans (AA), with voice-overs by AA parents and youth. Videos portraying family interactions and intrapersonal processes are integrated into each session to convey key points of the intervention along with interactive activities to promote skill-building and to reinforce learning. PAAS also includes a technology tutorial and an introductory session.
Wait-list
Subjects were on a wait list for active intervention and received the PAAS intervention at the end of the study (same as active intervention).
Overall Study
STARTED
86
60
Overall Study
COMPLETED
71
50
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
15
10

Reasons for withdrawal

Reasons for withdrawal
Measure
Pathways for African-Americans' Success
Subjects completed a 6-week Pathways for African-Americans' Success (PAAS) intervention. This is a weekly, 1.5 hour/session, family intervention for 6 weeks. Pathways for African-Americans' Success (PAAS): PAAS is a 6-week, technology-delivered, family-based youth risk intervention program. PAAS includes 6 sessions for parents and youth, and joint sessions in which they both engage on the same computer to integrate and practice the skills they have just learned in their separate sessions. Each session includes a review, a virtual discussion, and observing and interacting with four parent and four youth Avatars that reflect phenotypes of African Americans (AA), with voice-overs by AA parents and youth. Videos portraying family interactions and intrapersonal processes are integrated into each session to convey key points of the intervention along with interactive activities to promote skill-building and to reinforce learning. PAAS also includes a technology tutorial and an introductory session.
Wait-list
Subjects were on a wait list for active intervention and received the PAAS intervention at the end of the study (same as active intervention).
Overall Study
Lost to Follow-up
15
10

Baseline Characteristics

Prevention of Adolescent Risky Behaviors: Neural Markers of Intervention Effects

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Pathways for African-Americans' Success
n=86 Participants
Subjects completed a 6-week Pathways for African-Americans' Success (PAAS) intervention. This is a weekly, 1.5 hour/session, family intervention for 6 weeks. Pathways for African-Americans' Success (PAAS): PAAS is a 6-week, technology-delivered, family-based youth risk intervention program. PAAS includes 6 sessions for parents and youth, and joint sessions in which they both engage on the same computer to integrate and practice the skills they have just learned in their separate sessions. Each session includes a review, a virtual discussion, and observing and interacting with four parent and four youth Avatars that reflect phenotypes of African Americans (AA), with voice-overs by AA parents and youth. Videos portraying family interactions and intrapersonal processes are integrated into each session to convey key points of the intervention along with interactive activities to promote skill-building and to reinforce learning. PAAS also includes a technology tutorial and an introductory session.
Wait-list
n=60 Participants
Subjects were on a wait list for active intervention and received the PAAS intervention at the end of the study (same as active intervention).
Total
n=146 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
86 Participants
n=41 Participants
60 Participants
n=1581 Participants
146 Participants
n=4626 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
0 Participants
n=41 Participants
0 Participants
n=1581 Participants
0 Participants
n=4626 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
0 Participants
n=41 Participants
0 Participants
n=1581 Participants
0 Participants
n=4626 Participants
Age, Continuous
12.56 Years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.0 • n=41 Participants
12.57 Years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.0 • n=1581 Participants
12.56 Years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.0 • n=4626 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
38 Participants
n=41 Participants
26 Participants
n=1581 Participants
64 Participants
n=4626 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
48 Participants
n=41 Participants
34 Participants
n=1581 Participants
82 Participants
n=4626 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
n=41 Participants
0 Participants
n=1581 Participants
0 Participants
n=4626 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants
n=41 Participants
0 Participants
n=1581 Participants
0 Participants
n=4626 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
n=41 Participants
0 Participants
n=1581 Participants
0 Participants
n=4626 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
86 Participants
n=41 Participants
60 Participants
n=1581 Participants
146 Participants
n=4626 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
0 Participants
n=41 Participants
0 Participants
n=1581 Participants
0 Participants
n=4626 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants
n=41 Participants
0 Participants
n=1581 Participants
0 Participants
n=4626 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
n=41 Participants
0 Participants
n=1581 Participants
0 Participants
n=4626 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
86 Participants
n=41 Participants
60 Participants
n=1581 Participants
146 Participants
n=4626 Participants
Emotion regulation
54.43 T score
STANDARD_DEVIATION 12.23 • n=41 Participants
52.02 T score
STANDARD_DEVIATION 10.15 • n=1581 Participants
53.44 T score
STANDARD_DEVIATION 11.45 • n=4626 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: 18 weeks (from pre-intervention to 3-months after post-intervention)

Emotional regulation was assessed through parent and youth self-reported questionnaires using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function, Second Edition (BRIEF-2). T scores, normed for age and sex are available. T-score standardizes an individual's executive functioning difficulties relative to peers. For example, 50 is the population mean and a standard deviation of 10. Higher scores indicate more significant problems. Scores below 60 are within normal limits; 60-64: subclinical difficulties; 65-69: mildly elevated; 70-74: moderately elevated; and 75 or above: considered highly elevated, suggesting significant difficulties in emotion regulation. These questionnaires were administered at baseline (before intervention) and 3 months post-intervention. Because parent report may be less biased regarding youth's regulation, we used parent data for analysis. Data imputation was done for missing data.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Pathways for African-Americans' Success
n=86 Participants
Subjects completed a 6-week Pathways for African-Americans' Success (PAAS) intervention. This is a weekly, 1.5 hour/session, family intervention for 6 weeks. Pathways for African-Americans' Success (PAAS): PAAS is a 6-week, technology-delivered, family-based youth risk intervention program. PAAS includes 6 sessions for parents and youth, and joint sessions in which they both engage on the same computer to integrate and practice the skills they have just learned in their separate sessions. Each session includes a review, a virtual discussion, and observing and interacting with four parent and four youth Avatars that reflect phenotypes of African Americans (AA), with voice-overs by AA parents and youth. Videos portraying family interactions and intrapersonal processes are integrated into each session to convey key points of the intervention along with interactive activities to promote skill-building and to reinforce learning. PAAS also includes a technology tutorial and an introductory session.
Wait-list
n=60 Participants
Subjects were on waitlist for active intervention and were offered the PAAS intervention at the end of the study (same as active intervention).
Changes in Emotional Regulation
Pre-intervention (baseline)
54.43 T Score
Standard Deviation 12.23
52.02 T Score
Standard Deviation 10.15
Changes in Emotional Regulation
Post-intervention (3-month follow-up after 6-week intervention)
54.47 T Score
Standard Deviation 13.74
60.77 T Score
Standard Deviation 16.76

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 18 weeks (from pre-intervention to 3-months after post-intervention)

Population: One participant did not complete this section

Cognitive regulation was assessed through parent and youth self-reported questionnaires using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function, Second Edition (BRIEF-2). T scores, normed for age and sex are available. T-score standardizes an individual's executive functioning difficulties relative to peers. For example, 50 is the population mean and a standard deviation of 10. Higher scores indicate more significant problems. Scores below 60 are within normal limits; 60-64: subclinical difficulties; 65-69: mildly elevated; 70-74: moderately elevated; and 75 or above: considered highly elevated, suggesting significant difficulties in cognitive regulation. These questionnaires were administered at baseline (before intervention) and 3 months post-intervention. Because parent report may be less biased regarding youth's regulation, we used parent data for analysis. Data imputation was done for missing data.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Pathways for African-Americans' Success
n=86 Participants
Subjects completed a 6-week Pathways for African-Americans' Success (PAAS) intervention. This is a weekly, 1.5 hour/session, family intervention for 6 weeks. Pathways for African-Americans' Success (PAAS): PAAS is a 6-week, technology-delivered, family-based youth risk intervention program. PAAS includes 6 sessions for parents and youth, and joint sessions in which they both engage on the same computer to integrate and practice the skills they have just learned in their separate sessions. Each session includes a review, a virtual discussion, and observing and interacting with four parent and four youth Avatars that reflect phenotypes of African Americans (AA), with voice-overs by AA parents and youth. Videos portraying family interactions and intrapersonal processes are integrated into each session to convey key points of the intervention along with interactive activities to promote skill-building and to reinforce learning. PAAS also includes a technology tutorial and an introductory session.
Wait-list
n=59 Participants
Subjects were on waitlist for active intervention and were offered the PAAS intervention at the end of the study (same as active intervention).
Changes in Cognitive Regulation
Pre-intervention (baseline)
55.41 T Score
Standard Deviation 10.71
54.51 T Score
Standard Deviation 10.52
Changes in Cognitive Regulation
post-intervention (3-month follow-up after intervention)
51.81 T Score
Standard Deviation 20.94
55.66 T Score
Standard Deviation 18.44

Adverse Events

Pathways for African-Americans' Success

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Wait-list

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Additional Information

Dr. Uma Rao

University of California, Irvine

Phone: 949-824-8040

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place