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Life Experiences in Adolescents and the Development of Skills

NCT04719897 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 88

Last updated 2025-11-13

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

The primary objective of this study is to assess acquisition and retention of a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)-based "cognitive restructuring" skill, among young adolescents (12-15 years of age) with elevated depression symptoms and with population-level variability in lifetime exposure to adverse childhood experiences. This study uses a repeated-measures, longitudinal design to investigate associations between adversity exposure and learning-related cognitive control processes in the context of elevated depression (Aim 1). Adversity exposure and cognitive control will be examined as direct predictors of cognitive restructuring skill acquisition and skill retention over six-months; an indirect pathway from adversity to skill acquisition through cognitive control will also be examined (Aim 2). The study also includes exploration of key characteristics of adversity, namely the type (threat of harm versus deprivation of resources) and developmental timing of exposure, as distinct predictors of skill acquisition (exploratory Aim 3).

Conditions

  • Depression in Adolescence
  • Adverse Childhood Experiences

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

FIRST: Repairing Thoughts

This intervention uses the Repairing Thoughts cognitive restructuring module of the FIRST (Feeling Calm, Increasing Motivation, Repairing Thoughts, Solving Problems, Trying the Opposite) cognitive behavioral therapy protocol. This psychotherapy module teaches adolescents that thoughts are linked to feelings and behaviors, and that thoughts are often "guesses" to interpreting the world around us. Adolescents are taught to notice their thoughts in real-time and evaluate the evidence that supports or contradicts the thoughts and interpretation. Adolescents are then taught strategies to re-interpret thoughts in a more realistic manner and notice changes in emotional and behavioral responses. Clinicians are provided with examples to enhance learning, and between-session practice is assigned as "homework."

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

    collaborator NIH

  • University of Pittsburgh

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Rachel A Vaughn-Coaxum, Ph.D. · University of Pittsburgh

Study Design

Allocation
NA
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Model
SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age
12 Years
Max Age
15 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2021-05-19
Primary Completion
2025-10-10
Completion
2025-10-10

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT04719897 on ClinicalTrials.gov