Bridging the Gap: Implementing BRIDGES
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: The BRIDGES (In Brussels, Resilience and Inclusion for Depression through Guidance, Exercise and Support) intervention.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Inactive People, Depression. Basic parameters: 12 years — 19 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
- Belgium
- 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
Bridging the Gap: Implementing BRIDGES (Brussels Resilience and Inclusion for Depression - Guidance, Exercise and Support) to Shape Adolescent Outpatient Mental Health Care. A Randomized Control Study Protocol
Overview
Together with teenagers, we have developed a new approach: BRIDGES, which stands for "In Brussels, Resilience and Inclusion for Depression through Guidance, Exercise, and Support." BRIDGES aims to help young people with depression get moving again in their daily lives, at their own pace and in ways that are good for them.
Detailed description
Even though physical activity is recognized for its mental and physical health benefits, we find that adolescents going through a difficult psychological period often engage in very little of it. Current physical activity offerings do not always take into account their specific needs, preferences, or daily realities. That is why we have co-created a new approach with adolescents: BRIDGES, which stands for "In Brussels, Resilience and Inclusion for Depression through Guidance, Exercise, and Support." This project includes 18 30-minute sessions over 3 months with a physical therapist specializing in mental health, including individual follow-ups with advice and discussions, as well as putting you in touch with sports clubs or associations of your choice. The goal is to help you get moving again in your daily life, at your own pace and in a way that makes you feel good.
This study has a waiting list control group, so young people can either participate immediately or wait 6 months to participate.
Interventions
- Behavioral The BRIDGES (In Brussels, Resilience and Inclusion for Depression through Guidance, Exercise and Support) intervention
Described above
Primary outcome measures
- Depressive symptoms [Time frame: Throughout the entire study, during approximately 15 months]
- Physical activity levels [Time frame: Throughout the entire study, during approximately 15 months]
Secondary outcome measures (9)
- Depressive symptoms (larger evaluation) [Time frame: Throughout the entire study, during approximately 15 months]
- Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) [Time frame: Throughout the entire study, during approximately 15 months]
- Adapted Exercise self-efficacy (SEE) [Time frame: Throughout the entire study, during approximately 15 months]
- Astrand Rhyming test (ART) [Time frame: Throughout the entire study, during approximately 15 months]
- Waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) [Time frame: Throughout the entire study, during approximately 15 months]
- Motivational interviewing fidelity [Time frame: Throughout the entire study, during approximately 15 months]
- Client Perception of Motivational Interviewing [Time frame: Throughout the entire study, during approximately 15 months]
- The Health Care Climate Questionnaire [Time frame: Throughout the entire study, during approximately 15 months]
- Logbook [Time frame: Throughout the entire study, during approximately 15 months]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- All adolescents aged 12 to 19 with a diagnosis of depression who are receiving outpatient care through AREA+
- voluntary participation and accepting the randomisation
- being admitted at AREA+
- being able to stay focused for 30 minutes
- having a good knowledge of French
- physically inactive defined as not meeting the PA guidelines from World Health Organisation (28) following the corresponding age (i.e. at least 420 min of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) /week for those aged 12-17 and at least 150 min of MVPA /week for those aged 18 and 19 years
- living in Brussels
Exclusion criteria
- intellectual disability (defined as an intelligence quotient < 70)
- participants with serious medical problems or medical precautions prohibiting higher-intensity exercise (e.g., severe metabolic disorders, oncologic disease, unstable diabetes) according to the recommendations of the American College of Sports Medicine.
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Open label
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
Study locations
Belgium · 1 center
- AREA+, Epsylon — Brussels
Publications
- Philippot, A., Coppens, M., Van Damme, T., Sluys, C., Francaux, M., Dubois, V., & Vancampfort, D. (2026). Combining the behavior change wheel framework with a co-design approach to develop an outpatient physical activity intervention for adolescents with depression: A blueprint. Manuscript accepted for publication.
- Miller, W. R., & Rollnick, S. (2012). Motivational interviewing: Helping people change. Guilford press.
- Philippot A, Dubois V, Lambrechts K, Grogna D, Robert A, Jonckheer U, Chakib W, Beine A, Bleyenheuft Y, De Volder AG. Impact of physical exercise on depression and anxiety in adolescent inpatients: A randomized controlled trial. J Affect Disord. 2022 Mar 15;301:145-153. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.01.011. Epub 2022 Jan 7. PMID 35007642
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07422909 · CCEMHA · JRDIC-2 a-b-c