The Efficacy of Parent Involvement in the Treatment of Adolescent Depression
The Efficacy of Parent Involvement in the Treatment of Adolescent Depression
The primary aim of this study is to examine whether adolescent depression and the family
 context in which it develops is best treated using an individual adolescent intervention or
 an intervention that includes both the adolescent and the parents. This will be accomplished
 by conducting a randomized controlled pilot study of Interpersonal Psychotherapy for
 Depressed Adolescents (IPT-A) in comparison to Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Depressed
 Adolescents and Parents (IPT-AP).
The primary aim of this project is to examine whether adolescent depression and the family
 context within which it develops is best treated using an individual adolescent intervention
 or an intervention that includes both the adolescent and the parents. This will be
 accomplished by conducting a randomized controlled pilot study of Interpersonal Psychotherapy
 for Depressed Adolescents (IPT-A) in comparison to Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Depressed
 Adolescents and Parents (IPT-AP). Twenty-two families with adolescents (ages 12-17) who meet
 criteria for major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, depressive disorder NOS, or
 adjustment disorder with depressed mood and also report elevated levels of parent-adolescent
 relationship problems will be randomized to receive IPT-A or IPT-AP. Assessments will be
 administered at screening, baseline, week 4, week 8, week 12, week 16 (post-treatment), and 4
 months post-treatment. Outcome measures will include depression symptoms, quality of
 parent-adolescent relationships, parents' and adolescents' communication skills (assessed
 through observational coding of a parent-adolescent conflict negotiation task), and
 adolescents' physiological stress responses to negotiating conflict with a parent (assessed
 through collection of salivary cortisol). Identifying the best approach to treating both the
 adolescent's depression and the family environment in which it develops and is maintained
 would have significant implications for the long-term outcomes of depressed adolescents and
 their families.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Ages 12-17

 -  English speaking adolescent and parent

 -  One parent/primary caregiver willing to participate in adolescent's treatment

 -  Meets diagnostic criteria for Major Depressive Disorder, Dysthymic Disorder,
 Depressive Disorder NOS, or Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Mood

 -  BDI-II > 14

 -  CDRS-R > 36

 -  CGAS > 65

 -  CBQ T score >65

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Severe episode of Major Depressive Disorder (CDRS-R > 85 and/or PI clinical
 assessment)

 -  Current significant risk for suicide (active suicidal ideation with plan; active
 suicidal ideation without a plan if unable to contract for safety

 -  Meets diagnostic criteria for substance abuse, schizophrenia, psychosis, bipolar
 disorder, conduct disorder, or eating disorder

 -  mental retardation

 -  medical illness likely to complicate or interfere with treatment

 -  currently in active treatment for depression

 -  currently taking medication for a psychiatric diagnosis other than ADHD or not on a
 stable dose of medication for ADHD (<3 months)

 -  Parent psychiatrically hospitalized within the past 3 months or parent psychopathology
 significantly severe to interfere with participation in their adolescent's treatment