Mechanisms of Behavioral Activation (BA)
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Behavioral Activation Therapy, Baseline assessment procedures.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Depression. Basic parameters: 15 years — 17 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- United States
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
Unsure about the terms? Read our patient guide →
Official title
Multi-level Mechanisms of Behavioral Activation Therapy for Adolescent Depression
Overview
The investigators will be comparing brain (neural) activation of depressed adolescent patients before, during and after a course of Behavioral Activation (BA) therapy using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). In particular, the project seeks to determine whether BA targets different neural mechanisms for behavioral avoidance associated with low motivation as compared to threat avoidance. A group of healthy controls will also be scanned as a comparator group for behavioral and imaging measures.
Detailed description
The primary aim of this study is to investigate the behavioral and neurobiological factors predicting response to Behavior Activation (BA), a psychosocial treatment for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), in adolescents.
The recruitment age pool will be adolescents ages 15-17. The investigators plan to recruit 40 healthy controls and 96 treatment-seeking adolescents for an overall sample of \~136 participants, Individuals who reach the age of majority (18) during the study will be re-consented as adults and allowed to continue participating in the study.
A healthy control group will be included to assess stability in behavioral and neuroimaging measures over the course of participation in the study.
The fMRI scan schedule will include three task-based sessions (baseline, after session 7, and after endpoint) and two (sessions 3 \& 9). "behavioral-scheduling-in-the-scanner" sessions Primary results will focus on symptom change within patients and their association to measures of low motivation and threat avoidance.
Interventions
- Behavioral Behavioral Activation Therapy
Participants will be seen for a maximum of 16 sessions of therapy focused on increasing rewarding behaviors (16 individual therapy sessions of 1-hour, 2 of which include the BSIS component) over 16 weeks. BA intervention includes monthly booster sessions offered throughout 6-month follow up. If needed, two extra sessions will be allowed during treatment. - Behavioral Baseline assessment procedures
Completion of the K-SADS and CDRS-R to assess MDD, and the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence - 2nd Edition to assess IQ.
Primary outcome measures
- Change in Diagnostic Interview Status (CDRS-R) total score from baseline [Time frame: Baseline, week 16 post intervention]
- Change in Adolescent Longitudinal Interval Follow-Up Evaluation (A-LIFE) [Time frame: Week 8 post intervention (Midpoint), week 16 post intervention]
Secondary outcome measures (1)
- Change in Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) [Time frame: Baseline, weekly therapy visits 1-16 post intervention]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Male and female adolescents ages 15-17;
- current MDD diagnosis as determined by K-SADS-PL,
- CDRS-R raw score > 45 (T-score > 65) at baseline;
- estimated full scale IQ > 80 as determined by the WASI-II;
- able to receive outpatient care;
- willing to not partake in other psychosocial treatments;
- not taking psychotropic medications in the two weeks (four weeks for fluoxetine) prior to consent, with the exception of psychostimulant medication prescribed for the treatment of ADHD.
- Additionally, depressed patients must have access to required technology (e.g. smart phone, tablet, or desktop computer) to complete the EMA portion of the study.
- Healthy controls cannot not meet criteria for MDD and their CDRS-R raw score must be below 28; T-score < 52).
Exclusion criteria
- Current or past diagnosis of bipolar, schizophrenia, schizophreniform, schizoaffective disorders, or psychosis NOS;
- current diagnosis of developmental disorder, severe conduct disorder, life-threatening anorexia, OCD, or autism-spectrum disorders;
- taking psychotropic medications prior to entry;
- estimated IQ < 80; alcohol/drug dependence or abuse within the last 3 months;
- potential/confirmed neurological disorder or epilepsy;
- claustrophobia;
- presence of a medical condition that precludes fMRI;
- endorsement of imminent and serious suicidality;
- medical conditions that take precedence over the presence of MDD;
- pregnancy;
- substance use (excluding nicotine) within two weeks of the fMRI scan;
- left-handedness;
- nicotine use within 3 hours of the fMRI scan;
- history of traumatic brain injury or of being unconscious for more than 30 minutes;
- a stimulant regime for ADHD which has changed within 30 days of the fMRI scan.
- Non-compliance (i.e. <70% completion) or inability (i.e. lack of smartphone device) to complete the 3 assessment periods of EMA.
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: Yes
Study design
- Allocation
- N/A
- Model
- Single group
- Masking
- Open label
- Primary purpose
- Other
Study locations
United States · 3 centers
- Emory University — Atlanta
- Facility for Education and Research in Neuroscience (FERN) — Atlanta
- Child and Adolescent Mood Program (CAMP) — Atlanta
Identifiers
NCT: NCT05548244 · IRB00078545 · 1R01MH126985-01A1 · 2025P011729