Group Treatment for Adolescents With Depression

Youth with depressive symptoms are at risk for a range of problems later in life. This includes problematic interpersonal relationships, occupational stress, and the occurrence of adult mental disorders. The main purpose of this study is to test how effective two types of group therapy are at reducing depressive symptoms in youth. A focus on group therapy is important because group therapy allows for many youth to be treated in a short amount of time. Group therapy is also helpful because youth can get social support and feel less alone in their symptoms when they participate in group. This study compares two groups, one that targets skills for managing difficult emotional experiences (dialectical behavior therapy skills group) and another group focuses on psychoeducation and is based on a publicly available treatment manual from the Services for Teens At Risk (STAR) Center at the University of Pittsburgh. The results of this study will provide insights regarding the comparative efficacy of these two treatments, and regarding predictors of treatment response.

Twelve week skills based group therapy include four modules: mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and walking the middle path

The comparison group used in the present study is based on a publicly available treatment manual from the Services for Teens At Risk (STAR) Center at the University of Pittsburgh

Measure mood symptom severity. Response is defined as greater than or equal to 50% reduction in CDRS-R score

Used to track symptom severity, treatment (both psychosocial and psychotropic), self-injurious/suicidal behavior and psychosocial functioning over time.

Used to ascertain adolescent and parent reported affect regulation, during the preceding year or time since last assessment

Used to ascertain 80 adolescent and parent reported negative life events, during the preceding year or time since last assessment

This is a self-reported questionnaire used to assess adaptive and maladaptive ways to cope with negative emotions or problematic situations

This is a self-reported questionnaire (adolescent-reported) used to assess emotion dysregulation in the adolescent.

Inclusion Criteria: English speaking male or female, ages 14 to 19, all races and ethnicities Current depression as assessed by an ALIFE - PSR score equal to or greater than 4 Has a treating psychiatrist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre Exclusion Criteria: Current manic episode current psychosis