R4Power: An Online Resilience Program for Adolescents

Depression Clinical Trial

— R4Power  

Official title:

R4Power: An Online Resilience Program for Adolescents

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Recruiting

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT00641368
• Other study ID #: 07-08-003
• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: Phase 1
• First received: March 17, 2008
• Last updated: March 17, 2008
• Start date: October 2007
• Est. completion date: October 2009

Study information

• Verified date: March 2008
• Source: Swarthmore College
• Contact: Jane E. Gillham, Ph.D.
• Phone: 610-957-6010
• Email: info[@]positivepsych.org
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Health authority: United States: Institutional Review Board
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The study will evaluate the R4Power program, an online intervention designed to teach adolescents coping and problem-solving skills.

Description:

This study examines the feasibility of a 10-lesson web-based intervention, the R4Power program, and its effectiveness in preventing symptoms of depression and anxiety. The R4Power Program teaches cognitive and problem-solving skills covered in classroom based interventions, including the Penn Resiliency Program, that have been found to reduce or prevent symptoms of depression in children and adolescents. This study examines whether adolescents can benefit from learning these skills through a computer (rather than classroom) intervention.

Adolescents in grades 6 through 8 who participate in this study will be assigned to one of two conditions: an intervention group that will complete the R4Power program during the first year (R4Power1), or a waitlist control group that will complete the R4Power program the following year (R4Power2). Students will complete the 10-lesson program over the course of twelve weeks. They will learn and practice cognitive skills (recognizing the link between their thoughts and feelings, identifying thinking traps, challenging their negative beliefs) and problem-solving skills (assertiveness, relaxation and distraction, overcoming procrastination, and decision making). Adolescents who participate in this study will be followed for one year, and their coping responses and symptoms of depression and anxiety will be assessed at four points: at the beginning of the study (baseline) and at follow-up assessments approximately 4, 12 and 16 months after baseline.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Recruiting
• Enrollment: 200
• Est. completion date: October 2009
• Est. primary completion date: October 2009
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: Both
• Age group: 11 Years to 15 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• 6th-8th grade students attending participating school OR adolescents aged 11-15 living in greater Philadelphia area

• Access to high speed internet connection (at home, school, or another location)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Below 6th grade reading level, as reported by parents

Study Design

Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Open Label, Primary Purpose: Prevention

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Anxiety
• Depression

Intervention

Behavioral:
• R4Power Program
In the 10-lesson online R4Power Program, adolescents will learn cognitive skills (link between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors; thinking traps; challenging negative beliefs) and problem-solving skills (assertiveness; relaxation and distraction; overcoming procrastination; decision-making) in order to cope with stressful situations.

Other:
• Waitlist Control
Adolescents in the waitlist control group will complete the R4Power program during the second year of the study.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	Swarthmore College	Swarthmore	Pennsylvania

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Swarthmore College

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Adolescents' coping strategies by self-report		Measured at baseline and follow-ups approximately 4, 12, and 16 months after baseline	No
Primary	Adolescents' depressive symptoms by self-report		Measured at baseline and follow-ups approximately 4, 12, and 16 months after baseline	No
Secondary	Adolescents' symptoms of anxiety by self-report		Measured at baseline and follow-ups approximately 4, 12, and 16 months after baseline	No