Interpersonal Psychotherapy in Youth With Severe Mood Dysregulation-Pilot

Interpersonal Psychotherapy in Youth With Severe Mood Dysregulation-Pilot

The purpose of this study is to determine the feasibility and acceptability of an utilizing an adapted form (IPT-SMD)of a psychosocial intervention, Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Depressed Adolescents, for youth with severe mood dysregulation (SMD).

The investigators hypothesize that retention rates will be >80%,satisfaction scores will average 6 (high) on a 7 point satisfaction scale, and that youth who receive the IPT-SMD intervention will have overall improvement in SMD symptoms.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male and female subjects, ages 13 to 17 years, who meet criteria for severe mood dysregulation as defined by NIMH criteria.
• Subject has an estimated IQ >70 on the Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test (KBIT-2)
• Subjects will have continuously resided with a legal guardian who has known the adolescent well for at least one year before study entry and is legally able to sign the consent form.
• Participants must be on the same dose of any prescribed medication for 4 weeks prior to randomization.
• Children's Global Assessment Scale (CGAS) ≤ 60

Exclusion Criteria:

• Subject poses a significant risk for dangerousness to self or others. Risk will be determined by clinical history, clinical diagnostic interview and KSADS-PL interview of parent and patient by clinician.
• Subject suffers from a concomitant medical or psychiatric co-morbidity that makes this study protocol inadvisable (either the treatment is contraindicated or the disorder is not the primary focus of treatment).
• Subject meets DSM-IV criteria for current alcohol or substance dependence or current use (defined as the past 4 weeks).
• Pregnant females.
• Primary caretaker does not speak English