About this trial
The study will adapt and deploy a digital Behavioral Activation app with mobile sensing, supported by health coaches, that encourages youth to engage in positive activities. The study has the potential to offer a low-cost and scalable behavioral intervention that may decrease risk of suicide among at-risk youth. This research will examine specifically whether an intervention involving an app called Vira, combined with health coaching (GET ActivE) can improve enjoyment for teens coping with depression. Research participants will be randomly assigned to one of two study intervention. One study intervention involves a) downloading an app called Vira and engaging by responding to a daily question, and b) participating in a conversation via text, phone, or messages through an appt with a health coach. The health coach will use the Vira app and principles from evidence-based therapy and behavior change to provide users with insights to sustain well-being and better manage risk factors for suicidal thoughts and behaviors such as depressed mood and behavioral withdrawal. The second study intervention involves downloading an app called EARS and responding to a daily question.
Eligibility criteria
Qualifiers
Adolescents age 12-18
Current moderate to severe depression (PHQ-9-M > 11)
Current clinically significant anhedonia, operationalized as PHQ-9-M anhedonia item score > 1
English language fluency and literacy level sufficient to engage in study protocol
Disqualifiers
Evidence of mania, psychosis, or developmental disability precluding comprehension of study procedures per electronic health record review and phone screen.
Trial design
Treatments tested in this trial
- GET ActivE
- Treatment As Usual
Treatment groups
Locations
2Sponsors and collaborators
University of Pittsburgh
Lead sponsor
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Collaborator
University of Oregon
Collaborator
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Collaborator
Columbia University
Collaborator