Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for the Prevention of Paranoia in Adolescents at High Risk

Weill Cornell Medicine (WCM)

Status: Completed

Conditions: APS; Prodromal Symptoms; ARMS

Treatments: Behavioral: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01923701

1007011164

KL2 RR024496 (Other Grant/Funding Number)

Details and patient eligibility

About

The main objective of this study is to decrease the severity of symptoms and improve psycho-social functioning in youth at high risk of developing psychosis by providing a specialized Group-and-Family-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (GF-CBT).

Full description

24 adolescents and young adults between the ages of 12 and 25 who are at high risk of developing psychosis and exhibit paranoid ideation will be recruited to participate in a pilot randomized controlled trial. Subjects will be randomly assigned to the intervention (GF-CBT)or control (symptom monitoring) groups. GF-CBT is based on a cognitive neuropsychiatric model of delusions, and incorporates recent developments in learning and cognitive theories. GF-CBT consists of individual, group, and family group sessions. The three-part program teaches adolescents and family members Cognitive Behavioral skills that they can continue using on their own after completion of the program. Preliminary efficacy of the intervention will be evaluated using standardized measures by blind evaluators conducted at baseline, post-treatment, and post-termination follow-up over the next 2 years. Hypotheses: (a) GF-CBT will be associated with: high rate of remission from "at risk status" and low rates of transition to psychosis (defined by CAARMS criteria); greater improvements in severity of symptoms; and improved functioning; (b) decrease in family members'level of stress, and improved coping; (c) Family members will demonstrate proficiency in CBT Skills.

Enrollment: 13 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 12 to 25 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• meets criteria for ARMS (at Risk Mental State, assessed by CAARMS)
• Elevated suspiciousness (PANSS,P6≥3)

Exclusion criteria

A diagnosis of any of the following:

• Moderate to severe learning disability
• Substance dependence
• Organic impairment known to affect brain

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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13 participants in 2 patient groups

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Experimental group

Description:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy group receives group, individual, and family Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in addition to standard care.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Monitoring

No Intervention group

Description:

This group receives standard care only.