Adolescent Interpersonal Counseling in Primary Care

Launched by FINNISH INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE · Apr 25, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how well adolescents with mild to moderate depression can access treatment and how to identify which young people might benefit from a specific type of counseling called adolescent interpersonal counseling (IPC-A). The research is happening in Finland and aims to improve the way we treat depression in primary care settings. Adolescents aged around 12 to 15, who are in grades 7 to 9 and give their consent, can participate in the study. However, those who have received psychiatric care in the past year or are currently in therapy for any other mental health condition will not be eligible.

Participants in the trial will complete surveys three times over six months to share information about their depression and any help they may need. They will also report their depressive symptoms every two weeks. Caregivers will fill out separate surveys about their child's needs and experiences with treatment. This study will help researchers compare IPC-A to other treatments and gather important information about the overall mental health services available to adolescents. If your child qualifies and participates, they will have a chance to contribute to improving mental health support for young people.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • we will include all adolescents attending grades 7 to 9 in selected schools with on informed consent
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • psychiatric care within the past 12 months or receiving a psychosocial intervention (psychotherapy, IPC-A, any other therapy of support) during the 12 months before baseline,
• • an inability to reliably understand the Finnish, Plain Finnish, Swedish, or English versions of the survey, or
• • an adolescents' or caretakers' report of a need for exclusion, such as another medical condition - including a mental disorder - requiring acute current treatment or support.