No Time to Wait — Single-Session Growth-Mindset Program for Teens

No Time to Wait: A Randomized Control Trial of Online Single-Session Intervention for Children and Adolescents on Psychotherapy Waitlists in Hong Kong

This project will try a single-session online growth-mindset program to help Hong Kong adolescents aged 12–17 who have elevated depression or anxiety symptoms.

Quick facts

• Phase: NA
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 124 (estimated)
• Ages: 12 Years to 17 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: United Christian Hospital (other)
• Locations: 1 site (Hong Kong)
• Trial ID: NCT07383467 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This interventional project delivers a single-session online growth-mindset intervention to Hong Kong adolescents with elevated depression or anxiety symptoms. Eligible participants aged 12–17 with PHQ-9 or GAD-7 scores ≥10 complete baseline questionnaires, complete the self-guided digital session in Chinese, and provide parental consent. Researchers will exclude youth with recent psychological treatment, severe comorbid psychiatric disorders, or active suicidal ideation, and will collect follow-up symptom, functioning, and satisfaction measures after the session. The program is designed to be brief, low-cost, and scalable to reach young people who face barriers to traditional services.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are Hong Kong residents aged 12–17 with PHQ-9 or GAD-7 scores of 10 or higher, able to read Chinese, with internet access and parental consent.

Not a fit: Patients with active suicidal ideation, psychotic or bipolar disorders, recent psychotherapy within three months, or other severe conditions are unlikely to benefit from a single-session online program and may need more intensive care.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide quick, low-cost relief and improve access to early mental health support for teens who cannot easily reach clinic-based care.

How similar studies have performed: Previous trials of online single-session interventions, including growth-mindset and other brief programs, have shown moderate symptom reductions and improved functioning, making this a promising but not replacement-level approach.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

(1) being Hong Kong residents aged 12 - 17; (2) having anxiety and/or depression symptoms, scoring 10 or above, in accordance with Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) or General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7); (3) having access to the internet and a valid email address for communication, (4) being able to understand and read Chinese and, (5) participants' parent or legal guardian will be willing to give informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

(1) they have received another psychological treatment for depression and/or anxiety in the past 3 months, (2) they report a diagnosis of other comorbid severe psychiatric disorder, including psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder, dissociative disorder, or other neurocognitive disorders that make participation infeasible or interfere with the adherence to the digital self-help intervention, (3) they would participate in another similar study concurrently, (4) any suicidal ideation is reported (score \> 2 on Question 9 of the Beck Depression Inventory), (5) they report substance abuse history, (6) having changes in psychotropic medication within 2 weeks before baseline assessment; or (7) they report pregnancy.

Where this trial is running

Hong Kong

• United Christian Hospital — Hong Kong, Hong Kong (RECRUITING)

Conditions: Depression - Major Depressive Disorder, Anxiety, Single Session Intervention, Youth, Depression and Anxiety, Alexithymia