Compassion-Based Family Intervention for Adolescents
Compassion-Based Family Intervention for Adolescents With Emotional Disorders and Their Parents: A Randomized Waitlist-Controlled Trial
Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital
60 participants
Aug 30, 2025
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
Summary
Adolescents with emotional disorders (such as depression or anxiety) often experience distress that also affects their parents, creating a cycle of stress within the family. This study tests a new compassion-based family intervention designed to help both adolescents and their parents. The program includes six weekly sessions (120 minutes each). The study will recruit 60 parent-adolescent dyads. Half will receive the intervention immediately; the other half will wait 6 weeks before receiving it. We will measure changes in depression, anxiety, parenting stress, family relationships, and - using brain imaging (fNIRS) and heart rate monitors - how the intervention affects parent-child emotional and physiological synchrony. Assessments will take place before the intervention, right after, and at 3-month and 6-month follow-ups. The goal is to see whether this family-focused compassion program can improve mental health for both adolescents and their parents.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria6
- the adolescent is aged 12-18 years
- for the adolescent, required scores at enrollment: at least one of the following criteria is met (i) 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17) (Hamilton, 1960) total score ≥17 and ≤30, (ii) Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA) (Hamilton, 1959) total score ≥18 and ≤29; and in addition, the item 3 score of HAMD-17 (suicide) must be ≤2
- at least one parent is willing to participate
- the adolescent has normal auditory and visual perception abilities and intellectual level
- the participating parent has normal reading and writing ability
- the adolescent has no history of manic episodes
Exclusion Criteria5
- the adolescent presents with psychotic symptoms, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia
- the parent suffers from a mental illness or psychological disorder
- the adolescent or their parent has a history of substance abuse
- the adolescent or their parent has a severe neurological disorder or major physical disease
- the adolescent or their parent is assessed as having high suicide risk
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Interventions
A 6-week program (120 minutes weekly) combining theoretical content and group activities, with additional home practice (emotion diaries and meditation). Content focuses on cultivating self-compassion and compassion for others, developing inward awareness and outward observation, improving perspective-taking and communication skills, and managing conflict within the family. Weekly themes: Week 1 "Setting Sail Together, Understanding Love in Thought and Action"; Week 2 "Inward Awareness, Resonance of Body and Mind"; Week 3 "Outward Observation, Seeing One Another Clearly"; Week 4 "Shifting Perspectives, Bridging Boundaries"; Week 5 "Perspective-Taking, Managing Conflict"; Week 6 "Harnessing Compassion, Bringing Love Home."
Locations(1)
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NCT07138417