Neural Components Underlying the Treatment of Adolescent Depression



Status:Recruiting
Conditions:Depression, Major Depression Disorder (MDD)
Therapuetic Areas:Psychiatry / Psychology, Pulmonary / Respiratory Diseases
Healthy:No
Age Range:13 - 18
Updated:4/17/2018
Start Date:October 2012
Contact:Colin Stanton
Email:camdl@mclean.harvard.edu
Phone:617-855-4240

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Examination of the Neural Components Underlying the Treatment of Adolescent Major Depression

The goal of the study is to examine how cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a common
treatment for adolescent depression, affects brain functioning. Depressed adolescents will
complete an initial assessment consisting of an interview, questionnaires, computer tasks,
and an EEG recording. EEG (electroencephalography) measures brain activity by recording the
electrical activity along the scalp caused by the firing of neurons within the brain. They
will then complete 12 sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy, which will be 50 minutes long
and held once a week for 12 weeks. Before their third therapy session, participants will
complete a computer task while EEG data are recorded. After completing the treatment, the
participants will complete a final assessment, which will include questionnaires, computer
tasks, and an EEG recording. They will also complete follow-up assessments over the phone 1,
3, and 6 months after completing the treatment.

This study will also include healthy control participants. They will complete an initial
assessment consisting of an interview, questionnaires, computer tasks, and an EEG recording.
Three weeks later, they will return to complete a behavioral task while EEG data are
recorded. Twelve weeks after the initial assessment, they will complete a final assessment,
which will include questionnaires, computer tasks, and an EEG recording.

The purpose of the study is to examine the impact of individual cognitive behavioral therapy
(CBT) for adolescent depression on neural functioning. Specifically, the study will utilize
Brent and Poling's (1997) cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) manual (Cognitive Therapy
Treatment Manual for Depressed and Suicidal Youth), and investigators will examine pre- to
post- neural activity patterns for children and adolescents who receive individual CBT for
depression. Electroencephalography (EEG) techniques will be utilized to assess
treatment-related effects on brain activity (i.e., anterior cingulate cortex and dorsolateral
prefrontal cortex functioning). Neural activity patterns will also be compared to
non-depressed, healthy controls.

Inclusion Criteria, Major Depressive Disorder Participants:

- Ages 13-18 years at time of initial assessment

- Female

- Current major depressive disorder (MDD) diagnosed according to the K-SADS Axis I
semi-structured interview

- English as first language or English fluency

Exclusion Criteria, Major Depressive Disorder Participants:

- Male

- Mania/Hypomania

- Current anxiety disorders [e.g., Panic Disorder (PD), Generalized Anxiety Disorder
(GAD), Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)]

- Eating Disorders

- Substance Abuse/Dependency

- Conduct Disorder/Antisocial Disorder

- ADHD

- Psychosis

- Mental Retardation

- Organic Brain Syndrome

- Current Psychotherapy Treatment

- Medical & neurological illness (head injury, loss of consciousness for more than 5
minutes, seizures)

- Current use of psychotropic medication for treatment of MDD with the exception of
SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors)

- Active suicidality

Inclusion Criteria, Healthy Control Participants:

- Ages 13-18 years at time of initial assessment

- Female

- English as first language or English fluency

Exclusion Criteria, Healthy Control Participants (in addition to the exclusion criteria of
the MDD group):

- Elevated depressive symptoms as assessed in phone screen
We found this trial at
1
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115 Mill St
Belmont, Massachusetts 02478
(617) 855-2000
Phone: 617-855-4240
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