NCT06072677

Brief Summary

Starting at puberty, female adolescents are nearly three-times more likely to develop internalizing disorders, like depression, while male adolescents are two-times more likely to develop externalizing disorders, like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This divergence between the sexes during puberty suggests sex-specific pathways of risk and differential effects of sex hormones. The purpose of this research is to determine: 1) sex-specific neural and endocrine features of the pubertal transition that may mediate sex differences in adolescent mood disorders, and 2) the neurophysiological basis of susceptibility to hormone change during puberty.

Trial Health

77
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
60

participants targeted

Target at P25-P50 for not_applicable

Timeline
19mo left

Started Aug 2023

Longer than P75 for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
recruiting

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Progress63%
Aug 2023Dec 2027

Study Start

First participant enrolled

August 24, 2023

Completed
1 month until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

October 2, 2023

Completed
8 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

October 10, 2023

Completed
4.1 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

December 1, 2027

Expected
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

December 1, 2027

Last Updated

January 14, 2026

Status Verified

January 1, 2026

Enrollment Period

4.3 years

First QC Date

October 2, 2023

Last Update Submit

January 12, 2026

Conditions

Keywords

PubertyDepressionMood disturbanceAdolescenceStressPeripubertal TransitionHormonesEEGSex differences

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • CES-DC Score Over Time

    The 20-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children (CES-DC) will be the primary measure of severity of depressive symptoms. Each item is rated 0 (not at all) to 3 (a lot), with items 4, 8, 12, and 16 being reversed scored. The total CES-DC score may range from 0-60. Higher scores indicate more severe depressive symptoms. Scores of 15 or greater are suggestive of significant depressive symptoms. The overall CES-DC score will be assessed at the end of each week in the study.

    up to Week 8

Study Arms (2)

Healthy Minds Program

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this group will begin the Healthy Minds Program immediately following the 4-week baseline period.

Behavioral: Healthy Minds Program

Waitlist Control

OTHER

After the 4-week baseline period, participants in the waitlist control condition will wait an additional 4 weeks before starting the Healthy Minds Program.

Behavioral: Healthy Minds Program

Interventions

The Healthy Minds Program is a 4-week mobile program to improve coping and emotion regulation skills. It includes 4 training modules corresponding to key pillars of wellbeing: awareness(focused attention/awareness of thoughts/emotions), connection (empathy, compassion, social connection), insight (clarity of identify/experience) and purpose (applying values/motivations). The Healthy Minds Program includes 2 introductory audio lessons and guided meditations, and each 1-week module includes 2 podcast lessons (5-7 minutes) with psychoeducation and practical examples, and 3 guided meditations relevant to the module topic, for a total of 10 lessons and 14 guided meditations.

Healthy Minds ProgramWaitlist Control

Eligibility Criteria

Age11 Years - 14 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsChild (0-17)

You may qualify if:

  • Between the ages of 11 and 14
  • Have their own personal mobile device and capability to download the MyCap and Healthy Minds apps
  • Experienced a stressful life event within the last year, or endorse moderate depression (defined by a CES-DC score 16 or higher)

You may not qualify if:

  • Previous experience with the Healthy Minds Program
  • Regular meditation practice
  • Current or history of manic episodes, psychotic symptoms, or current suicidal intent
  • Taking any form of exogenous hormones or intrauterine device (IUD) within one month of participation in the study
  • Taking medications that directly alter cardiovascular or neurological function

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Carolina Crossing B, Suite 1

Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27517, United States

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Depression

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavioral SymptomsBehavior

Study Officials

  • Elizabeth Andersen, PhD

    University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Kayla Jensen, BS

CONTACT

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
SINGLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT
Purpose
OTHER
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

October 2, 2023

First Posted

October 10, 2023

Study Start

August 24, 2023

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 1, 2027

Last Updated

January 14, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will share

Deidentified individual data that supports the results will be shared beginning 9 to 36 months following publication provided the investigator who proposes to use the data has approval from an Institutional Review Board (IRB), Independent Ethics Committee (IEC), or Research Ethics Board (REB), as applicable, and executes a data use/sharing agreement with UNC.

Shared Documents
STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP
Time Frame
beginning 9 and continuing for 36 months following publication
Access Criteria
Investigator has approved IRB, IEC, or REB and an executed data use/sharing agreement with UNC.

Locations