Effects of a Multifamily App-Enhanced Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Delivered via Telehealth for Parents of Adolescents With Mood or Psychotic Spectrum Disorders.

Parents of youth with mood or psychotic disorders are affected by and also impact the course of their offspring's psychiatric illness(es). Few studies have examined the effects of family psychotherapy on parents' mental health in this population. This study involved a multifamily group cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for adolescents with mood or psychotic spectrum disorders and their parents, and tested whether a mobile application (app) could increase therapeutic engagement and skill practice.

Impact of acute stress exposure on genome-wide DNA methylation.

DNA methylation (DNAm) is a stable epigenetic modification, yet plasticity in DNAm is associated with exposure to a broad range of experiences. Evidence from animal studies suggests that acute stress can induce DNAm changes in adulthood. However, there has been limited exploration of plasticity in the human epigenome in response to acute stress.

A randomized trial of an app-enhanced group cognitive behavioral therapy for adolescents with mood or psychotic spectrum disorders.

: Evidence-based psychosocial treatments for the early stages of mood or psychotic spectrum disorders are difficult to find in public health settings, and the efficacy of these treatments is limited by inconsistent behavioral skill practice among youth between sessions. Treatments can be made more accessible and efficacious when delivered through a group format that makes use of mobile applications to remind users to practice skills. : We conducted a 9-week, randomized controlled trial of the unified protocol (UP) for cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) delivered via telehealth in a group format, comparing an app-enhanced version of the treatment (AppUP) to standard UP for adolescents with mood and psychotic spectrum conditions.

Behavioral skill practice as a predictor of mood and family functioning in adolescents with bipolar and depressive mood disorders: Results of a 6-month randomized trial of family-focused therapy.

Objective: Behavioral interventions require considerable practice of treatment skills in between therapy sessions. The effects of these treatments may vary with the degree to which patients are able to implement these practices. In offspring of parents with bipolar and major depressive disorders, we examined whether youth who frequently practiced communication and problem-solving skills between family-focused therapy (FFT) sessions had less severe mood symptoms and better psychosocial functioning over 6 months than youth who practiced less frequently.

A Randomized Clinical Trial of Technology-Enhanced Family-Focused Therapy for Youth in the Early Stages of Mood Disorders.

Objective: Family-focused therapy (FFT) is associated with enhanced outcomes in youth with bipolar and depressive disorders, but has not been evaluated in conjunction with mobile health tools. In symptomatic adolescents whose parents had histories of mood disorders, we examined whether the effects of telehealth-based FFT were augmented by mobile health apps that emphasized mood tracking and family coping skills.

Method: Participants (aged 13-19 years) had active mood symptoms and a parent with major depressive or bipolar disorder.

A randomized trial of telehealth mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy groups for adolescents with mood or attenuated psychosis symptoms.

Objectives: There is substantial evidence that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) improve symptoms and functioning in adults with mood and psychotic disorders. There has been little work directly comparing these treatments among adolescents with early-onset mood or psychosis symptoms.

Method: We conducted a randomized controlled trial comparing remotely administered group CBT to group MBCT for adolescents (ages 13-17) with a mood disorder or attenuated psychosis symptoms.

App-enhanced transdiagnostic CBT for adolescents with mood or psychotic spectrum disorders.

Background: Although transdiagnostic forms of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) have been evaluated in individuals with depressive and anxiety disorders, few studies have examined their suitability for more severe disorders, such as recurrent or persistent major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, or psychotic spectrum disorders. This study examined the acceptability and initial efficacy of an app-enhanced Unified Protocol for Adolescents [UP-A] when including youth with more severe mood disorders or psychotic spectrum disorders.

Methods: We first adapted a mobile application (app), based on user-centered feedback from adolescents and their parents, to assist participants in reviewing session content, practicing skills learned in previous treatment sessions, and monitoring symptomatic progress.