First Experimental Study of Transference Work - In Teenagers (FEST-IT)

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The First Experimental Study on Transference work - In Teenagers (FEST-IT) will be a randomized clinical trial, which will be designed to explore effects of transference work in dynamic psychotherapy in adolescents with major depressive disorder (MDD). The design of the study is a so-called dismantling design, in which a single component is added and/or varied to an existent treatment method (psychodynamic psychotherapy). Thus, the efficiency of a specific technique (transference interventions) can be identified. The primary hypothesis is that the transference group may have a more favorable course over time than will the comparison group. The second hypothesis is that patients with a history of low Quality of Object Relations score and/or personality disorders-might benefit more from therapy with transference work than from therapy without. The third hypothesis is that female adolescents may have better treatment effect of transference work than male adolescents.

Detailed Description
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The effect of transference interventions in depressed adolescents and the moderator moderating effect of quality of object relations, personality disorder and gender will be explored. Methods and study design: The First Experimental Study of Transference Work-In Teenagers (FEST-IT) will be a randomized clinical trial with a dismantling design. The study is aimed to explore the effects of transference work in psychodynamic psychotherapy for adolescents with depression. One hundred patients ages 16 to 18 years old will be randomized to one of two treatment groups, in both of which general psychodynamic techniques will be used. The quality of adolescents' relationships will be a central focus of the study.The patients will be treated over 28 weeks with either a moderate level of transference intervention or no transference intervention. Follow-up will be at 1 year after treatment termination. Gender personality disorder (PD) and quality of object relations (QOR) will be the preselected moderators. The object of this clinical trial is to explore the effect of transference interventions in psychodynamic psychotherapy in adolescents with a major depressive disorder. Using a randomized and dismantling design, we hope that the study will add more specific knowledge to the evidence base.

Official Title
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First Experimental Study of Transference Work - In Teenagers

Conditions
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Depression

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Individual psychodynamic psychotherapy


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Adolescents aged 16 - 18 years Exclusion Criteria: Pervasive developmental disorder, psychosis, or substance abuse

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 16 Years
Maximum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

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: Triple


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Individual PDT with TW<br>Individual Psychodynamic psychotherapy with transference work (TW). | Behavioral: Individual psychodynamic psychotherapy<br>* Individual psychodynamic psychotherapy with or without transference work. I.e. with or without relational therapist interventions focusing on the patient-therapist relationship.<br>* Other names: Short-term psychoanalytic psychotherapy;|
| Active Comparator: Individual PDT without (TW)<br>Individual Psychodynamic psychotherapy without focus on transference work (TW). | Behavioral: Individual psychodynamic psychotherapy<br>* Individual psychodynamic psychotherapy with or without transference work. I.e. with or without relational therapist interventions focusing on the patient-therapist relationship.<br>* Other names: Short-term psychoanalytic psychotherapy;|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Psychodynamic Functioning Scales (PFS) | Average of 5 subscales rated by experienced clinician raters; family relations, friendships, tolerance for affects, insight, problem solving and adaptive capacity | 3 months | 
| Inventory of Interpersonal Problems-Circumplex Version (IIP-C) | 64.items patient rated measure | Currentl | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) | Rated by experienced clinician raters | One week | 
| Symptom Checklist-90 (Global Severity Index; GSI) | Patient-rated | Current | 
| Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) | Patient rated | Current | 
| Montgomery Åsberg Rating Scale (MADRS) | Rated by therapist and/or experienced clinician rater | Current | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Transference work, Psychodynamic, Depression, Treatment, Adolescent