Resilience in Adolescent Development

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER · Mar 1, 2018

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The Resilience in Adolescent Development (RAD) study is looking to understand how some young people are better able to cope with challenges and avoid developing depression compared to others. This study will follow adolescents and young adults aged 10 to 24 over a period of 10 years. Researchers will collect various types of information, including personal background, psychological evaluations, and brain scans, to identify what makes some individuals more resilient and what factors might put others at risk for depression. By studying a large group of 1,500 participants, the goal is to create a clearer picture of resilience and help improve treatment options for those who may experience mood or anxiety disorders in the future.

To be eligible for this study, participants need to be between 10 and 24 years old, able to speak English, and capable of completing certain tests. It's important that younger participants have a parent or guardian who can provide consent for them. Throughout the study, participants can expect to take part in visits up to four times a year, where they'll complete various assessments that help researchers learn more about their emotional and mental health. This study aims to provide valuable insights into mental health resilience, which could lead to better support and treatment for young people facing these challenges.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Youth aged 10-24, male and female of all races and ethnicity.
• • 2. Able to speak, read, and understand English. However, the parent(s)/guardian(s)/legally authorized representatives (LAR) may either speak English or Spanish as the consenting process can be conducted bilingually.
• • 3. Adults aged 18 and older must be able to provide written informed consent; for youth younger than age 18, parent(s)/guardian(s)/LAR must provide written informed consent, and the youth must provide written informed assent.
• • 4. Ability to complete clinical evaluations and neuropsychological testing.
• 5. Belong to one of the following groups:
• • 1. Individual at risk for a Mood Disorder: defined as either: a) Personal history (anxiety disorder, conduct disorder, substance use disorder, etc.) of a mental health disorder that is a not a mood disorder, OR b) No current or past mood disorder, but individual with Biological Family history (ex. mother, father, siblings, uncles, aunts, etc.) of mood disorder, substance use disorder, suicide deaths or attempts, or other mental health disorder.
• • 2. Healthy Individual: defined as having no psychiatric diagnoses (no history of mood disorders and having no relative with a history of a mood disorder).
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Individuals who are unable to provide informed consent or assent.
• • 2. Participants who are non-English speaking.
• • 3. Individuals with any of the following psychotic features: Mood Disorder with psychotic features, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or other psychotic disorder.
• • 4. (participants who develop depression during the longitudinal follow-up will continue in the study).
• • 5. A PHQ-9 score of 10 or greater.
• • 6. Individuals who are unable to provide a stable home address and contact information.
• • 7. Has any condition for which, in the opinion of the investigator or designee, study participation would not be in their best interest (including but not limited to cognitive impairment, unstable general medical condition, intoxication, active psychosis) or that could prevent, limit, or confound the protocol-specified assessments.
• • Exclusion for Healthy Controls
• • 1. A lifetime or a current history of a mood disorder based upon a semi-structured diagnostic interview.
• • 2. Personal (anxiety disorder, conduct disorder, substance use disorder, etc.) history of a mental health disorder that is not a mood disorder, or Biological Family (ex. mother, father, siblings, uncles, aunts, etc.) with history of mood disorder, substance use disorder, suicide deaths or attempts or other mental health disorder. (May participate in the RAD study as a non-healthy control).
• • 3. Meets any exclusion criteria as part of the main RAD study.