Feasibility Study of Behavioural Activation with Adolescents V1

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Feasibility and Acceptability Study of using a Manualised Behavioural Activation Intervention for Depression with Adolescents in Tier 3 Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)

• IRAS ID

  156799

• Contact name

  Susanne Marwedel

• Contact email

  susanne.marwedel@lancashirecare.nhs.uk 'smarwedel@doctors.org.uk'

• Sponsor organisation

  Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust

• Duration of Study in the UK

  0 years, 6 months, 1 days

• Research summary

  Aim of the study: to investigate the feasibility of integrating a manual-based short intervention of Behavioural Activation (BA) for adolescents with depression into standard clinical practice in Tier 3 Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). BA is a brief, structured approach to treating acute depression, addressing low mood by promoting the person’s contact with sources of reward through increasing activation, improving problem solving and reducing avoidance and other barriers to recovery.
  Methods: Twenty 11-17-year-old adolescents with depression (Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (MFQ) score of > 27) will be recruited from the case load of a tier 3 CAMHS team, identified by the case manager in consultation with the chief investigator. An information sheet and consent form will be used to gain informed consent from participants and from parents if young people are below 16 years of age. The manual-based intervention will be delivered in 8 sessions by trained clinical members of the CAMHS team, including the chief investigator (SM).
  Exclusion criteria: Active suicidality; frequent and repeated self-harm; inability to complete the questionnaires; substance addiction; anorexia nervosa; schizophrenia; early onset psychosis and young people who have already had a full course of psychological treatment.
  Evaluation: Primary outcome: feasibility (including ability to recruit and maintain in treatment) and acceptability. Secondary outcome: Clinical improvement. Measures at beginning and end of intervention: MFQ, SDQ and RCADS (patient- and parent-rated symptom questionnaires), Children’s Global Assessment Scale (CGAS) and Health of the Nation Outcome Scales for Children and Adolescents (HoNOSCA), both clinician-rated. Session-by-session IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) routine outcome measures (session feedback and symptom tracker, patient-rated). Session-by-session questionnaire (young person and therapist) for feedback on the manual. A BA-specific acceptability questionnaire has been devised for the study. Feasibility of the intervention will be assessed by overall feasibility score and clinical impression.

• REC name

  North West - Preston Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  15/NW/0155

• Date of REC Opinion

  31 Mar 2015

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion