Psychopathology in Adolescence

Condition(s) studied

Study summary

This observational study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of two different psychotherapy approaches-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Brief Strategic Therapy (BST)-in treating adolescents with psychological disorders. The study will follow adolescents aged 12 to 20 who are receiving psychotherapy as part of their routine clinical care at the IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo" in Messina, Italy. Participants will not be randomly assigned to a treatment; instead, their natural clinical path will be observed. Data will be collected through standardized psychological assessments at the beginning, during, and after the therapy, as well as at follow-ups at 3 and 9 months. The goal is to understand which therapeutic model is more effective in improving symptoms, quality of life, and self-esteem in adolescents, and how individual and family factors influence treatment outcomes.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) — Baseline, Month 3, Month 6, Month 9, and Month 12
  The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) is a standardized parent-report questionnaire used to assess a wide range of emotional and behavioral problems in children. Higher scores indicate greater levels of emotional and behavioral difficulties.
• SAFA General Screening Scales — Baseline, Month 3, Month 6, Month 9, and Month 12
  The SAFA (Self Administrated Psychiatric Scales for Youths and Adolescents) is a comprehensive set of standardized self-report questionnaires used to assess emotional and psychiatric symptoms in children and adolescents aged 8 to 18 years. The full battery includes six scales: * SAFA-A (Anxiety) * SAFA-D (Depression) * SAFA-O (Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms) * SAFA-S (Somatic Complaints) * SAFA-P (Psychogenic Psychotic Symptoms) * SAFA-F (Eating Disorders) Each scale produces a raw score, which is then converted into a standardized score. Total scores for each domain range approximately from 0 to 100, although precise ranges vary slightly by scale and age group. Higher scores reflect more severe emotional or psychological difficulties, i.e., a worse outcome.
• Personality Inventory for DSM (PID) — Baseline, Month 3, Month 6, Month 9, and Month 12
  The Personality Inventory for DSM-5 (PID-5) is a standardized self-report instrument developed to assess maladaptive personality traits aligned with the DSM-5 alternative model for personality disorders. It includes 220 items, rated on a 4-point Likert scale (0 = Very False or Often False; 3 = Very True or Often True), and provides scores on five broad domains: * Negative Affectivity * Detachment * Antagonism * Disinhibition * Psychoticism Scores range from 0 to 660 (sum of all item scores), although domain and facet scores are typically reported separately. Higher scores reflect more severe or dysfunctional personality traits (i.e., a worse outcome).
• Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) — Baseline, Month 3, Month 6, Month 9, and Month 12
  The Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) is a structured clinical interview used to assess suicidal ideation and behavior. It includes subscales for suicidal thoughts, intent, plans, preparatory behavior, and actual suicide attempts. Each item is scored individually; for example: * Suicidal ideation severity scale: 0 (no ideation) to 5 (active ideation with specific plan and intent), * Behavior subscale: binary indicators (yes/no) of actual, aborted, or interrupted attempts. Higher scores indicate greater severity of suicide risk and behavior (i.e., a worse outcome).
• Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) — Baseline, Month 3, Month 6, Month 9, and Month 12
  The Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) is a standardized self-report instrument designed to assess difficulties in identifying and describing emotions, and externally oriented thinking. It consists of 20 items, each rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = Strongly disagree to 5 = Strongly agree). Total scores range from 20 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater levels of alexithymia (i.e., worse emotional awareness).
• Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) — Baseline, Month 3, Month 6, Month 9, and Month 12
  The Barratt Impulsiveness Scale - Version 11 (BIS-11) is a widely used self-report questionnaire designed to assess impulsivity as a personality trait. It consists of 30 items, rated on a 4-point Likert scale from 1 (Rarely/Never) to 4 (Almost Always/Always). Total scores range from 30 to 120, with higher scores indicating greater impulsivity (i.e., a worse outcome).
• Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale - Short Form (DERS-SF) — Baseline, Month 3, Month 6, Month 9, and Month 12
  The DERS-SF (Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale - Short Form) is an 18-item self-report instrument that assesses difficulties in emotion regulation. Each item is scored on a 5-point Likert scale from 1 (Almost Never) to 5 (Almost Always). Total scores range from 18 to 90. Higher scores indicate greater difficulties in emotion regulation (i.e., a worse outcome).

Trial sites (1)

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