The Use of SmartPhone App (Kandoo) to Enhance Efficacy of Brief Behavioral Activation in Reducing Mood Disorder Symptoms

Launched by CHILD MIND INSTITUTE · Feb 10, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying a new way to help young people aged 13 to 25 who are experiencing symptoms of depression. Researchers want to see if using a smartphone app called Kandoo, which makes scheduling activities and tracking moods more fun and engaging, can be more effective than traditional methods that use paper and pencil. Over eight weeks, participants will either use Kandoo along with a brief treatment to help improve their mood or continue with the usual paper-based treatment. The goal is to find out if those using the app show greater improvements in their depression symptoms.

To be eligible for the trial, participants should be between 13 and 25 years old, currently dealing with mild to moderate depression, and have access to a smartphone and the internet. They must also be receiving care at specific mental health clinics. Participants will work closely with their parents and doctors, especially those under 18, to ensure it's safe for them to take part. Throughout the study, researchers will collect information on how participants feel before and after the treatment, helping to understand how effective Kandoo may be in supporting their mental health.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Age: 13.0 to 25:11 years old
• • 2. Sex: male and female
• • 3. Currently enrolled as a patient in the CMI clinic or Fort Health Virtual Outpatient Mental Health Clinic
• • 4. Current clinical presentation must include symptoms of mild-to-moderate depression, two of which must be depressed/irritable mood most of the day and markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day
• • 5. Access to a smart device
• • 6. Internet connectivity
• • 7. Approval by parents and clinician for participants 13-17.11; approval by clinician for participants 18+
• Exclusion Criteria:
• 1. Current exclusionary psychiatric conditions are (not others):
• • 1. eating disorder
• • 2. manic episode (any current or history)
• • 3. psychotic episode or psychotic disorder
• • 4. active suicidality
• • 5. homicidal
• • 2. Any neurologic impairment that limits the ability to use a touch screen.