Improving how therapists use routine mental-health check-ins for teens
Official title: Enhancing the effectiveness of measurement-based care for youth by identifying key fidelity indicators
Funded at University of Miami Coral Gables · NIH-11181622 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at which therapist behaviors during regular progress check-ins help teens with emotional problems get better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Miami Coral Gables NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Coral Gables, United States) |
| Project start | September 3, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $469,310 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH133595-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11181622 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Teens receiving outpatient mental health care for anxiety, depression, or other emotional disorders in community clinics (and their therapists) are the direct focus of this work.
✕Less likely to help
Teens who are not in outpatient therapy, who receive care only in school or inpatient settings, or who have conditions outside emotional disorders may not see direct benefit from this project.
What this research studies
This project uses existing data from a randomized trial (COMET) conducted in community mental health clinics to find which parts of routine symptom monitoring matter most for teens. Researchers will define the full range of fidelity behaviors (how closely clinicians follow measurement-based care practices) and link those behaviors to changes in therapy processes and youth symptoms. The work combines digital usage logs, clinician self-reports, and observer ratings from 82 clinicians and 177 teens treated in Florida and Connecticut. The team will also test whether simple indicators like self-report or digital use can reliably show when check-ins are being done in helpful ways.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help therapists focus on the most helpful parts of routine symptom check-ins so teens improve more quickly and consistently.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies show measurement-based care can improve outcomes, but pinpointing which specific clinician actions drive those benefits is a newer and less-tested area.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Miami Coral Gables
Coral Gables, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jensen-Doss, Amanda — University of Miami Coral Gables
- Study coordinator: Jensen-Doss, Amanda
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.