Breathing practices to improve brain and mental health in adolescents

Enhancing Brain And Mental Health Through Breathing Practice: Clinical Applications In Rural Adolescents With Psychiatric Symptoms (Breathing Study -Adolescent)

This project will try a structured breathing program to see if it helps adolescents aged 12–17 who are being treated for anxiety or mild to moderate depression.

Quick facts

• Phase: NA
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 40 (estimated)
• Ages: 12 Years to 17 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Mayo Clinic (other)
• Locations: 2 sites (Albert Lea, Minnesota and 1 other locations)
• Trial ID: NCT07369752 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This is an interventional feasibility project testing a structured breathing intervention delivered to adolescents recruited from two Mayo Clinic Health System outpatient pediatric and child/adolescent psychiatry clinics. The study will enroll patients from both rural and non-rural areas and track feasibility outcomes such as adherence, acceptability, and preliminary symptom change. Participants with current suicidal ideation, severe psychiatric comorbidities, or significant cognitive impairment are excluded. The intervention is nonpharmacologic and intended to be a low-risk adjunct to usual clinical care.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adolescents ages 12–17 with clinician-diagnosed mild to moderate major depressive disorder and/or an anxiety disorder who are patients at one of the participating Mayo Clinic Health System outpatient psychiatry clinics and can read English, with parent/guardian consent and adolescent assent.

Not a fit: Patients with current suicidal ideation or self-harm, severe psychiatric disorders (such as psychosis or bipolar disorder), severe substance use or eating disorders, significant cognitive impairment, or those not receiving care at the two participating clinics are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide a low-cost, low-risk breathing technique that adolescents can use to reduce symptoms and improve coping.

How similar studies have performed: Breathing-based interventions have shown mixed but sometimes promising results for anxiety and depression in adults, with limited and preliminary evidence specifically in adolescents.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 who have been diagnosed with a major depressive disorder (mild or moderate) and/or an anxiety disorder.
* Participants may have co-occurring mild to moderate alcohol or drug use problems, provided these do not require immediate specialized treatment or crisis intervention.
* All participants must be receiving care at one of two participating MCHS outpatient psychiatry clinics and may reside in rural area (RUCA code 4-10) or non-rural area.
* Participants must be able to read and understand English, and both parental or guardian consent and adolescent assent will be required.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Current suicidal ideation or self-harm behavior requiring immediate clinical intervention
* Presence of severe psychiatric comorbidities such as psychosis, bipolar disorder, depression with psychotic features, severe alcohol and drug use, or eating disorders.
* Participants with significant cognitive impairment that would interfere with study participation.

Where this trial is running

Albert Lea, Minnesota and 1 other locations

• Mayo Clinic Health System-Albert Lea — Albert Lea, Minnesota, United States (RECRUITING)
• Mayo Clinic Health System-Eau Claire Clinic — Eau Claire, Wisconsin, United States (RECRUITING)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Pravesh Sharma — Mayo Clinic
• Study coordinator: Danielle Boos

Conditions: Depressive Disorder, Anxiety, Adolescent, Seokmun Hoheup, breathing