Neural Mechanisms of Evidence-Based, Family-Focused Treatment for Youth Depression: Preliminary Open Trial
Boston University Charles River Campus
Summary
The goal of this interventional study is to compare the baseline neural mechanisms and parenting in depressed and non-depressed children and to examine baseline neural mechanisms and parenting as predictors of Family-Focused Treatment for Childhood-Depression (FFT-CD) outcomes. The main questions it aims to answer are: * What are differences between depressed and non-depressed participants on baseline neural and parenting indicators? * Do baseline neural and parenting indicators predict response to FFT-CD? * Does change in parenting and neural functioning mediate change in depression from baseline to follow-up? Participants will: * complete baseline clinical measures * complete neuroimaging tasks via Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMR) * undergo a 12-session course of FFT-CD * complete follow up evaluations and neuroimaging
Description
Childhood-onset depression is impairing, often recurrent and persistent, and negatively impacts development, resulting in high personal, social, and economic costs. Family-Focused Treatment for Childhood-Depression (FFT-CD) was developed to address the needs of depressed youth. In a large, randomized controlled trial, FFT-CD was superior to individual therapy in promoting recovery from depression. Despite its promise, there was high variability in degree of improvement in FFT-CD. Our long-term goal is to integrate parenting, neuroimaging and clinical measures to a) reveal the parenting, emoti…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 7–12 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: * Children must: * Have a current DSM-5 diagnosis of MDD, Persistent DD, or DDNOS (based on K-SADS-PL) OR not meet criteria for any DSM-5 mental health diagnosis (based on K-SADS-PL) * Be ages 7-12 * Be living with a parent(s) or guardian willing to participate * Be able and willing to provide informed consent/assent Parent must: * Not be currently pregnant * Be able to read, understand consent forms, and provide consent on their child's behalf * Be the biological parent (or grandparent in parental role) of the participating child \& have lived with the child fo…
Interventions
- BehavioralFamily-Focused Treatment for Childhood-Depression (FFT-CD)
This intervention includes 12 one-hour, in-person sessions. FFT-CD was designed to help families gain skills to combat depression and create ways of interacting that protect the child from the negative sequelae of stress. Within a broad psychoeducational framework, interpersonal factors impacting youth depression and the interplay of mood and interpersonal interactions are emphasized. Participants are taught to identify Upward Spirals - positive interactions fueling positive moods leading further upward - and Downward Spirals - negative interactions fueling negative moods leading further downward. The treatment rationale is "to stop downward spirals and to start upward spirals"; this idea provides a foundation for skills building to help the child and family better navigate stress. Handouts, role-playing, behavioral rehearsal, and homework assignments are all used to help shape behaviors.
Locations (2)
- Boston UniversityBoston, Massachusetts
- Athinoula A. Martinos Imaging Center at Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyCharlestown, Massachusetts