RCT of Brief Intervention Addressing Stigma Among Parents of Children With Mental Health Problems

NCT07594730 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: AAAV7555
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 1,600
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this study is to test the efficacy of brief video interventions parental internalized stigma and stigma-related outcomes (e.g., treatment intentions, caregiver burden, secrecy) among parents (ages 25-50) of children ages 6-18 with depression, ADHD, or substance use problems. Timely identification and treatment of mental health problems in youth is a public health priority. However, many youth do not receive treatment, and stigma has been identified as the primary barrier to help-seeking. Parents experience stigma related to their children having mental health problems, which has been associated with reduced help-seeking and increased parental distress. Prior experiments have found brief video-based interventions (BVIs), 1-2 minute videos similar to those viewed by youth on social media platforms, based on the principle of "social contact" with individuals affected by a stigmatized condition, effective in reducing mental health stigma and increasing help-seeking. In this 4-arm RCT, we will recruit parents aged 25-50 using an online crowdsourcing platform, to test the efficacy of BVIs featuring a personal parent narrative of their experience with their child's a) depression, b) ADHD, or c) substance use, or d) a control condition that provides general written psychoeducational information without social contact.

Conditions

Depression Disorders; ADHD; Substance Abuse; Social Stigma; Help-Seeking Behavior; Caregiver Burden

Keywords

social stigma; help-seeking behavior; caregiver burden

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Parental Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness scale (PISMI)

  Measures internalized stigma among parents of children with mental health problems

  Immediately after viewing video, 30 days after intervention

• Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Scale-Short Form (adapted)

  3-item measure of treatment intentions, modified for parents of children with mental health problems

  Immediately after viewing video, 30 days after intervention

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Zarit Burden Interview screen

  Immediately after viewing video, 30 days after intervention

• Secrecy coping scale (adapted)

  Immediately after viewing video, 30 days after intervention

• Parental self-efficacy

  Immediately after viewing video, 30 days after intervention

• Parental attitudes and responses toward adolescent depression (adapted)

  Immediately after viewing video, 30 days after intervention

• Treatment engagement

  30 days after intervention

Study Arms (4)

Experimental: Depression social contact brief video

EXPERIMENTAL

Novel brief video (1-2 mins) in which a mother talks about their child's depression, impact of the parent, how parent helped support recovery

Other: Brief video

Experimental: ADHD social contact brief video

EXPERIMENTAL

Novel brief video (1-2 mins) in which a mother talks about their child's ADHD, impact on the parent, how parent helped support recovery

Other: Brief video

Experimental: substance use social contact brief video

EXPERIMENTAL

Novel brief video (1-2 mins) in which a mother talks about their child's depression, impact on the parent, how parent helped support recovery

Other: Brief video

Control

NO INTERVENTION

Written psychoeducational information about children's mental health, treatment options, and how parents can support child

Interventions

Brief video OTHER

Brief video about depression (arm 1), ADHD (arm 2), or substance use (arm 3)

Experimental: ADHD social contact brief video; Experimental: Depression social contact brief video; Experimental: substance use social contact brief video

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 25 Years - 50 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Self-identify as English Speaking
• Live in the US
• Ages 25-50
• Have a child 6-18 years old with either depression, ADHD, or a substance use problem

You may not qualify if:

• Do not speak English
• Do not live in the US
• \<25 or \>50
• Do not have a child between ages 6-18 with depression, ADHD, or a substance use problem

Sponsors & Collaborators

• New York State Psychiatric Institute: lead
• Columbia University: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Columbia University Irving Medical Center

New York, New York, 10032, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; Substance-Related Disorders; Social Stigma; Help-Seeking Behavior; Caregiver Burden

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Mental Disorders; Chemically-Induced Disorders; Social Behavior; Behavior; Stress, Psychological; Behavioral Symptoms

Study Officials

• Doron Amsalem, MD

  Columbia University; New York State Psychiatric Institute

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Doron Amsalem, MD

CONTACT

929-404-8802; doron.amsalem@nyspi.columbia.edu

Timothy Becker, MD

CONTACT

914-997-5203; tdb2143@cumc.columbia.edu

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: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 13, 2026
• First Posted: May 19, 2026
• Study Start: June 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 1, 2026
• Last Updated: May 19, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)