Feasibility and Preliminary Efficacy of a Novel RDoC-Based Treatment Program for Adolescent Depression: "Training for Awareness Resilience and Action" (TARA)-A Pilot Study.
Eva Henje Blom, Olga Tymofiyeva, Margaret A Chesney, Tiffany C Ho, Patricia J Moran, Colm G Connolly, Larissa G Duncan, Lisa Baldini, Helen Y. Weng, Michael Acree, Veronica Goldman, Frederick M Hecht, Tony T. Yang
Frontiers in Psychiatry January 16, 2017 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2016.00208 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Single-arm trial Pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 26 |
| Population | Adolescents aged 14-18 years with clinically depressed and/or anxious symptoms (7 males, 19 females) |
| Interventions | Training for Awareness Resilience and Action (TARA) |
| Duration | 12-week group program; assessments before (T0), immediately after (T1), and 3 months after the end of TARA (T2) |
| Measures | Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale Second Edition, Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children |
| Topics | Depression |
| Keywords | Emotion regulation Adolescent depression Autonomic regulation Non-pharmacological Mindfulness-based Novel treatment development Yoga-based |
| Key findings | TARA was feasible in clinically depressed and/or anxious adolescents and showed preliminary efficacy: depression and anxiety symptoms improved significantly from baseline to post-treatment and to 3-month follow-up, with improvements also in psychological flexibility, sleep, and mindfulness skills. The authors note the small sample and absence of a control condition limit the findings. |
Abstract
Background: The novel group treatment program Training for Awareness, Resilience, and Action (TARA) was developed to target specific mechanisms based on neuroscience findings in adolescent depression and framed within the National Institute of Mental Health Research Domain Criteria. TARA contains training of autonomic and emotional self-regulation, interoceptive awareness, relational skills, and value-based committed action.
Methods: We performed a single-arm trial to test the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of TARA in reducing depression and anxiety levels and assessed whether the specific targeted domains of function reflected the hypothesized symptom change. Twenty-six adolescents (14-18 years old, 7 males and 19 females) participated in the 12-week group program. Assessment was performed before (T0), immediately after (T1), and 3 months after the end of TARA (T2).
Results: Significant improvement was seen in depression symptoms (Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale Second Edition) between T0-T1 (t-value = -3.56, p = 0.002, CI = -6.64, -1.77) and T0-T2 (t-value = -4.17, p < 0.001, CI = -11.20, -3.75) and anxiety symptoms (Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children) between T0-T1 (t-value = -2.26, p = 0.033, CI = -4.61, -0.21) and T0-T2 (t-value = -3.06, p = 0.006, 95% confidence interval = -9.02, -1.73). Significant improvements in psychological flexibility, sleep, and mindfulness skills were also found between T0 and T2.
Limitations: The sample size was small without a control condition. The pilot design did not allow for testing the hypothesized brain changes and effect of TARA on relevant systemic biomarkers.
Conclusion: TARA is feasible in a sample of clinically depressed and/or anxious adolescents and preliminary efficacy was demonstrated by reduced depression and anxiety symptoms. The specific symptom and behavioral outcomes corresponded well with the hypothesized mechanisms of change.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on depression, most cited first.
Citations in the library
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- Gray Matter Changes in Adolescents Participating in a Meditation Training Frontiers in Human Neuroscience August 14, 2020
- Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Children with Mental Health Problems: a 2-Year Follow-up Randomized Controlled Study Mindfulness October 16, 2021
- Mindful awareness and resilience skills for adolescents (MARS-A): a mixed-methods study of a mindfulness-based intervention for a heterogeneous adolescent clinical population. International journal of adolescent medicine and health February 1, 2024
- Interoceptive brain network mechanisms of mindfulness-based training in healthy adolescents. Frontiers in Psychology 2024
- Learning to be mindful ─ experiences of mindfulness-based stress reduction for young adults with moderate to severe mental disorders. Journal of bodywork and movement therapies October 1, 2024
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Cites 6
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- Neural Correlates of Dispositional Mindfulness During Affect Labeling Psychosomatic Medicine July 1, 2007
- Assessing mindfulness in children and adolescents: Development and validation of the Child and Adolescent Mindfulness Measure (CAMM). Psychological Assessment April 11, 2011
- The Mindful Brain and Emotion Regulation in Mood Disorders The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry February 1, 2012
- Impact of meditation training on the default mode network during a restful state Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience March 24, 2012
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