Behavioral Family Systems Therapy (BFST) for Teens With Type 2 Diabetes

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This is a randomized, controlled pilot trial of Behavioral Family Systems Therapy for Teens with Type 2 Diabetes (BFST-DM2), an individual psychological intervention tailored to meet the needs of teens with type 2 diabetes. It is hypothesized that this behavioral family intervention will be feasible to implement with teens with type 2 diabetes and will have positive effects on treatment adherence, health outcomes like weight status and metabolic control, and psychological outcomes.

Detailed Description
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The incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) in youth is increasing dramatically with the rise in obesity in the U.S. and worldwide. DM2 in youth, as with adults, is clearly linked to modifiable risk factors such as obesity, sedentary lifestyle, and poor diet. Youth with DM2 are at increased risk for medical complications such as cardiovascular disease, retinopathy, and neuropathy, as well as psychological problems such as depression, anxiety, poor self-esteem, eating disorders, and poor coping and problem solving. Although there are studies demonstrating that family-based lifestyle and psychological interventions are successful in reducing obesity in youth and in improving metabolic control and adherence in youth with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1), very little has been published on potential lifestyle or psychological treatments for youth with DM2. Studies have shown that Behavioral Family Systems Therapy (BFST) has been effective in improving metabolic control, adherence, family communication, and problem solving in youth with DM1. This intervention could be effective in treating youth with DM2, as many of the skills necessary for good metabolic control, health outcomes, treatment adherence, and psychological adjustment are similar in both populations. This application proposes a randomized, controlled pilot trial of BFST-DM2, an individual psychological intervention tailored to meet the needs of teens with DM2. BFST will be adapted to make this intervention more feasible and relevant with minority and low-income populations and also to focus on weight management, exercise, and nutrition. The BFST-DM2 intervention includes 12 (90-minute) sessions over 6 months. Areas targeted for improvement will include metabolic control, weight/body mass index, treatment adherence, family lifestyle choices (activity, diet), family communication, and problem solving. One of the main aims of this pilot study is to gather exploratory information on the effectiveness of the BFST-DM2 intervention on measures of health outcomes, medical adherence, lifestyle changes, and family problem-solving and communication skills. In addition, it is an aim to estimate treatment effect size to determine the sample size needed to power a larger multi-site trial of the BFST-DM2 intervention. Other aims include determining factors associated with feasibility (recruitment, retention, participation, generalizability) as well as to modify the intervention to be culturally sensitive and to be more relevant to the individual needs of the DM2 adolescent population. The BFST-DM2 intervention will be compared with standard medical therapy on measures of health outcomes (metabolic control, body mass index, weight, waist circumference, body fat) physical activity (accelerometer), nutritional intake, treatment adherence, psychological adjustment (self-esteem, quality of life), family communication, and problem solving. The researchers will analyze predictors of treatment outcome and the treatment effects at the immediate post-treatment interval (6 months from baseline). Health outcomes and medical adherence data also will be collected 12 months from baseline to determine maintenance of treatment effects over time.

Official Title
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Behavioral Family Systems Therapy for Teens With Type 2 Diabetes: A Pilot

Conditions
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Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Childhood Obesity

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: BFST for Teens with Type 2 Diabetes


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus for 6 months or more Age-adjusted Body Mass Index at or above the 85th percentile (considered overweight) Established diabetes care in Nemours Children's Clinic system or diabetes care meets minimum criteria for current American Diabetes Association Standards. Adolescent lives at home in the study geographical area (Jacksonville, FL)over the course of the study duration (one year). One caregiver in the home is willing to participate in the family intervention. Exclusion Criteria: Adolescent has another systemic chronic disease other than well-controlled asthma. Genetic syndrome or disorder (other than diabetes) known to affect glucose tolerance. Daily use of glucocorticoids or other medications known to affect glucose tolerance. Teen is enrolled in special education for students who have autism or are mentally handicapped. Adolescent is pregnant or planning to be pregnant within 1 year. Teen resides in temporary foster care, group home, or juvenile detention center. The family has an open case with an agency investigating child abuse or neglect. Adolescent has been in an inpatient psychiatric facility or substance abuse treatment in the past 6 months.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 11 Years
Maximum Age: 17 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: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: BFST for Teens with Type 2 Diabetes<br>Psychological intervention: Families randomized to the intervention group will receive 12 sessions of Behavioral Family Systems Therapy for Teens with type 2 diabetes (BFST-DM2) over 6 months. | Behavioral: BFST for Teens with Type 2 Diabetes<br>* BFST for Teens with Type 2 Diabetes: 12 (90 minute sessions) over 6 months of Behavioral Family Systems Therapy (BFST), delivered by a Licensed clinical social worker. BFST consists of 4 components: problem-solving, communication skills training, cognitive restructuring, and functional and structural family therapy.<br>* Other names: BFST - Behavioral Family Systems Therapy;|
| No Intervention: Control group (Standard Care)<br>The participants assigned to the control group will receive their standard medical care for diabetes. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in Body Mass Index (weight status) at 6 months and at 12 months | Body Mass Index (adjusted for height, gender, and age) - height and weight in kg and meters (kg/m^2) - change in BMI across time points is being studied - change in weight from baseline to 6 months and change in weight from baseline to 12 months | baseline, 6 months after baseline, 12 months after baseline | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| metabolic control (HbA1c) | Metabolic control is measured using HbA1c values | baseline, 6 months after baseline, 12 months after baseline | 
| Treatment Adherence | Treatment Adherence is measured using the Diabetes Self Management Survey for Teens with Type 2 Diabetes. | baseline, 6 months after baseline, 12 months after baseline | 
| Family Problem-solving | Family problem-solving is measured using the Revised Diabetes Family Conflict Scale | baseline, 6 month after baseline | 
| Physical activity | Physical activity is measured by an accelerometer | baseline, 6 months after baseline | 
| Body Fat (weight status) | Body fat percent change - measured by a hand-held body fat impedance device | baseline, 6 months after baseline, 12 months after baseline | 
| Waist Circumference (weight status) | Waist circumference in cm | baseline, 6 months after baseline, 12 months after baseline | 
| Food intake | Nutrition/food intake as measured by the Nutrition Data Systems for Research interview | baseline, 6 months after baseline | 
| Family communication skills | Family communication skills are measured by the Family Communication (Interaction Behavior Code) | baseline, 6 months after baseline | 
| Teen Self-esteem | Teen Self-Perception/Self-esteem is measured by the Harter Self-Perception Profile | baseline, 6 months after baseline | 
| Teen Quality of Life | Teen Quality of Life is measured by The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) | baseline, 6 months after baseline | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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type 2 diabetes in adolescents, obesity in adolescents, behavioral family systems therapy