Hippocampal Plasticity of Young Adults With Childhood Adversity

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study investigates the clinical and neural effects of stress management skill building programs for young adults with childhood adversity. The investigators will recruit a total of 60 young adults (21-35 years old) who will be randomized into two different stress management skill building programs, both of which are 8 weeks long. MRI and psychological assessments will be acquired from all subjects before and after the intervention programs in order to investigate changes in clinical symptoms (such as depression, anxiety and stress) and hippocampus structure and function as well as other neural changes.

Official Title
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Hippocampal Plasticity of Young Adults With Childhood Adversity

Conditions
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Depression, Anxiety

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Stress Management Skill Building Program A
* Behavioral: Stress Management Skill Building Program B


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: having childhood adversity no history of psychiatric disorders of psychotic features or neurological disorders verified age between 21-35 years old; no suicidal attempts during the past six months; being determined by the clinician to have the capability to comply with the program requirements and not detrimental to other participants in the group; passing MRI eligibility criteria. provided written informed consent to participate in this study; committed to meeting the requirement of refraining from using marijuana or illicit drugs. Exclusion Criteria: psychosis active suicidal attempts during the past 6 months psychoactive substance abuse MRI exclusion criteria

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 21 Years
Maximum Age: 35 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Stress Management Skill Building Program A<br>An eight week skill building group in which subjects meet with the teacher and other students in the group once a week, and complete homework and practice log during the week. | Behavioral: Stress Management Skill Building Program A<br>* Subject will meet with the instructor and other students in the group once a week and complete homework and track amount of practice during the week.<br>|
| Active Comparator: Stress Management Skill Building Program B<br>An eight week skill building group in which subjects meet with the teacher and other students in the group once a week, and complete homework and practice log during the week. | Behavioral: Stress Management Skill Building Program B<br>* Subject will meet with the instructor and other students in the group once a week and complete homework and track amount of practice during the week.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Changes in hippocampal subfield gray matter density measured with high resolution structural MRI at 3T |  | before and after the 8-week intervention | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Changes in stress level measured by the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) |  | before and after the 8-week intervention | 
| Changes in severity of depression symptom measured by Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) |  | before and after the 8-week intervention | 
| Changes in severity of anxiety symptom measured by State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) |  | before and after the 8-week intervention | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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childhood, adversity