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Affirmative Family and Individual Psychotherapy for LGBTQ+ Adults and Their Parents

This study is testing two types of therapy delivered online: LGBTQ-affirmative CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy), which is an individual therapy, and ABFT-SGM (attachment-based family therapy for sexual and gender minority young adults), which is a family therapy. Both therapies are for sexual and gender minority adults (like lesbian, bisexual, queer, pansexual people) who are experiencing depression or anxiety and have parents who are not accepting. The study wants to see if these therapies can reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. You can join if you are 20 or older, fluent in English, identify as non-heterosexual, and have elevated depression or anxiety symptoms. The study is currently recruiting participants in New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Israel.

Study design
This is an interventional study planning to enroll 124 participants. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive one of the two therapies.
What's involved
You would participate in 16 weekly therapy sessions. Your depression and anxiety symptoms will be measured at the start, immediately after therapy, and 5 months later.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your symptoms will be checked again 5 months after your therapy ends.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT05766592

Affirmative Family and Individual Psychotherapy for Sexual and Gender Minority Adults and Their Nonaccepting Parents

Recruiting
PHASE3Ages 20+InterventionalTreatment
Yale University
~124 participants
Updated 2026-01-13 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:LGBTQ-affirmative CBTABFT-SGM

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 2 listed sites are recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Change in depression symptoms
Measured over Baseline, Immediate Post-intervention, 5-month Post-intervention
+1 more outcome measured

Conditions

Mental Health Issue
Parent-Child Relations

Explore related trials

AnxietyDepression

Where it's being run

2 sites across 2 states
New York1
Israel1

Study leadership

  • John E Pachankis, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Yale University
  • Gary M Diamond, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

Who to contact

John E Pachankis, PhD
[email protected]
646-429-9407
Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

be 20 and older
be fluent in English
self-identify as lesbian, bisexual, queer, pansexual, or other non-heterosexual identity
currently experience elevated depressive or anxiety symptoms (screened initially using a cutoff of ≥ 2.5 on the Brief Symptom Inventory-4 and further confirmed by the BDI and BAI).
report at least moderate levels of parental rejection or low levels of parental acceptance, as measured using the PARSOS.
have at least one rejecting/nonaccepting parent that agrees to participate in the therapy.
live in New York State, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, or Israel.

Exclusion

report current mental health treatment ≥1 day/month (except for medication management ≤1 day/week)
report beginning a new medication within the past 30 days
exhibit active psychosis or active mania, as assessed by the SCID-Psych Screen.
exhibit active suicidality or active homicidality, as assessed by the SIDAS
be currently legally mandated to attend treatment
demonstrate gross cognitive impairment, as assessed with the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status
do not have a parent willing to participate

What this trial measures

  • Change in depression symptomsBaseline, Immediate Post-intervention, 5-month Post-intervention

    Depressive symptoms will be measured using the 21-item Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI). Items are rated on a scale from 0-3 where higher scores indicate greater depression symptoms, with a maximum score of 63.

  • Change in anxiety symptomsBaseline, Immediate Post-intervention, 5-month Post-intervention

    Anxiety symptoms will be measured using the 21-item Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Items are rated on a scale from 0-3 where higher scores indicate greater anxiety symptoms, with a maximum score of 63.