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Family-Focused Treatment for Childhood Depression Study

This study is looking at how Family-Focused Treatment for Childhood-Depression (FFT-CD) works for children with depression. FFT-CD involves 12 one-hour, in-person sessions designed to help families learn skills to manage depression and improve family interactions. Researchers want to understand the differences in brain activity and parenting between depressed and non-depressed children, and how these factors might predict how well children respond to FFT-CD. They will measure how much a child's depression symptoms improve after 4 months. The study is open to children aged 7 to 12, who either have a depression diagnosis or no mental health diagnosis, and their parents. The goal is to enroll 80 participants.

Study design
This interventional study plans to enroll 80 participants. It will compare children with depression to children without mental health disorders.
What's involved
Participants will have a clinical evaluation, family functioning assessment, and brain imaging (MRI and DTI) at the start. Children receiving FFT-CD will attend 12 one-hour, in-person sessions.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Depression treatment response and children's self-reported depressive symptoms will be measured at 4 months (post-treatment).

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NCT06289010

Neural Mechanisms of Family-Focused Treatment for Youth Depression

Recruiting
NAAges 7–12InterventionalTreatment
Boston University Charles River Campus
~80 participants
Updated 2026-07-20 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Family-Focused Treatment for Childhood-Depression (FFT-CD)

At a glance

Recruiting sites
2 of 2 listed sites are recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Depression Treatment Response
Measured over 4 months (post-treatment)
+1 more outcome measured

Conditions

Childhood Depression

Explore related trials

Depressive Disorder Not Otherwise SpecifiedPersistent depressive disorderUnipolar Depression

Where it's being run

2 sites across 1 states
Massachusetts2

Study leadership

  • Martha C Tompson, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Boston University Charles River Campus

Who to contact

Martha C Tompson, PhD
[email protected]
617-353-9495
Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Children must:
Have a current DSM-5 diagnosis of MDD, Persistent DD, or DDNOS (based on K-SADS-PL) OR not meet criteria for any DSM-5 mental health diagnosis (based on K-SADS-PL)
Be ages 7-12
Be living with a parent(s) or guardian willing to participate
Be able and willing to provide informed consent/assent
Not be currently pregnant
Be able to read, understand consent forms, and provide consent on their child's behalf
Be the biological parent (or grandparent in parental role) of the participating child \& have lived with the child for more than 75% of the child's life.
Not have a disturbance that would interfere with participation such as autism spectrum disorder, psychosis, current substance dependence, current use of psychotropic medication, OCD, or MRI contraindication such as metal inside the body or claustrophobia
Be proficient in English

Exclusion

Thought or other disturbance in the child that would interfere with the ability to participate in treatment or assessments (e.g., psychotic disorder, autism spectrum disorder, OCD, active substance abuse/dependence, intellectual disability, as assessed on KSADS-PL)
Severe conduct disorders in the child that threaten the home stability (e.g. juvenile justice or children's protective service involvement as assessed on KSADS-PL) due to the potential impact on retention
Youth or primary caregivers do not speak English
Either parent or child has contraindications for neuroimaging (e.g., claustrophobia, metal implants, braces, electronically, magnetically, or mechanically activated devices such as cochlear implants)
The child is on an antidepressant medication, as it may complicate neuroimaging interpretation.

What this trial measures

  • Depression Treatment Response4 months (post-treatment)

    \>/= 50% reduction on Children's Depression Rating Scale-Revised (CDRS-R). Scores on this measure range from 17 to 113, and higher scores indicate greater depression severity.

  • Children's Self Report of Depressive Symptoms4 months

    Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) is a 28-item self-report measure. Scores range from 0 to 54 with higher scores reflecting higher levels of symptoms.