Research Projects

1) Brief Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (BCBT)

Targeted BCBT for the Treatment of Depression and Anxiety in Pediatric Primary Care (T-BCBT):  In this investigation, we assessed the clinical and cost effectiveness of BCBT for depressed youths and anxious youths seen for services in a pediatric primary care behavioral health program.  Internalizing youths were identified by their pediatricians and office clinical staff and randomly assigned to receive BCBT on-site or referral to outpatient mental health care.  Separate, but parallel, BCBT protocols were developed for primarily depressed youths or primarily anxious youths. Enrollment for this study is now closed, and data are being analyzed and prepared for publication.  Preliminary analyses indicate substantial clinical improvement for youths receiving BCBT compared to youth randomized to mental health referral, regardless of primary diagnosis (depression or anxiety).  This research has been funded by grants from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (Weersing, PI) and William T. Grant Foundation (Weersing, PI), and infrastructure support provided by the National Institute of Mental Health (MH066371; Brent [PI]).

Integrated BCBT for Anxiety and Depression (I-BAD):  Building on the results of the T-BCBT study (above), we are working to develop an integrated BCBT protocol for depression, anxiety, or their combination.  Currently, pediatric offices in San Diego County are being recruited as practice partners for an initial screening and feasibility study.  Enrollment for this study is open, and inquires from interested practices are welcome. There are many benefits to participation, including free mental health treatment for your patients. Please see our primary care handout for more information. This research is supported by an award from the William T. Grant Foundation (Weersing, PI).

BCBT for Pediatric Abdominal Pain (BCBT-RAP):  This study tests the effectiveness of the T-BCBT anxiety protocol adapted for youths with co-occurring functional recurrent abdominal pain (RAP). Enrollment for this study is open; however, all data collection occurs at the Ohio State University Children’s Hospital in Columbus, OH.  This research is supported by the National Institute of Mental Health (MH07376; Campo [PI], Weersing [co-PI]).

Computerized BCBT (BCBT-PC):  We currently are in the process of creating a computerized version of the T-BCBT protocol for adolescents and young adults with anxiety.  This project is conducted in collaboration with the Center for Understanding and Treating Anxiety (CUTA) at San Diego State University, directed by Dr. Nader Amir.   Enrollment and data collection for this investigation will begin shortly.  Inquiries are welcome.

2) Effectiveness of Community Mental Health Care

Yale Clinic Study:  This study is an evaluation of the services of an active community mental health clinic for children, adolescents, and families. The project aims to:  1) track mental health outcomes of the general population of the clinic, 2) examine predictors of treatment attrition and treatment response, and 3) evaluate the effectiveness of evidence-based treatments for youth depression, anxiety, and disruptive behavior disorders in a real world clinical care setting.  Enrollment for this study is ongoing; however, all data collection activities occur at the Yale University Child Study Center (YCSC) Outpatient Clinic in New Haven, CT.  Collaborating researchers include Dr. Joseph Woolston and Dr. Larry Scahill at Yale University.  This research is supported by an award from the William T. Grant Foundation (Weersing, PI).

Therapy Procedures Checklist:  The Therapy Procedures Checklist (TPC; Weersing, Weisz, & Donenberg, 2002) was created to quantify the techniques used by child and adolescent therapists in typical community care. The TPC asks therapists to rate the extent to which they employ techniques drawn from the three most common psychotherapeutic approaches with youth: psychodynamic, cognitive, and behavioral. Currently, the TPC is being used to assess the content of community psychotherapy in over a dozen treatment and dissemination studies, and the measure has been translated into Dutch and Norwegian for use in international services research.  Information about requesting permission to use the TPC can be found here.  Development of the TPC was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health (MH011779; Weersing [PI]).

3) Prevention of Depression

Prevention of Depression in At-Risk Adolescents (POD):  POD is a national, multi-site study designed to assess the impact of a cognitive behavioral prevention program on the future incidence of mood disorders and depressive symptoms in a large sample of at-risk adolescents.  Data collection sites include Vanderbilt University (Nashville), Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic (Pittsburgh), Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research (Portland), and Harvard University School of Medicine (Boston).  Enrollment for this study is now closed, and data are being analyzed and prepared for publication.  This research is supported by the National Institute of Mental Health (MH06450; Garber [PI], Weersing [co-I]).