Clinical trial Recruiting at 2 sites Interventional Ages 12 to 18

Teenthrive 2: Yoga vs. group therapy for teen mood

Official title: Teenthrive 2: Treatments for Improving Mood in Teens

Run by Butler Hospital · NCT07475845 · Data updated 2026-11-12

A pilot randomized trial tests whether a yoga-based program (YBI) or group cognitive-behavioral therapy (gCBT) helps adolescents with depression at two U.S. sites.

Quick facts

Study typeInterventional
Ages12 Years to 18 Years
SexAll
Enrollment96 (estimated)
SponsorButler Hospital
Academic / other
Locations2 sites (Boston, Massachusetts and 1 other locations)
StatusRecruiting
StartedJuly 7, 2026
Main results expectedDecember 31, 2027
Study endsDecember 31, 2027
Registry record updatedOctober 26, 2026
Trial IDNCT07475845 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Adolescents aged 12-18 with elevated depressive symptoms who can participate in group sessions and have access to private space for weekly sessions.

Probably not a fit

Teens with depression who cannot attend group sessions or lack access to the required settings may not benefit.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This pilot randomized trial compares a yoga-based intervention to group cognitive-behavioral therapy for adolescents with depressive symptoms at two sites (Columbus, OH and Boston, MA). About 96 participants aged 12-18 will be enrolled, randomized by site and set, and followed for 6 months to assess feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary clinical outcomes. Primary outcomes focus on depression symptom severity assessed by masked evaluators, with secondary measures including functional impairment, anxiety, self-compassion, and metacognitive awareness. Parents may participate in assessments to provide additional context. The study uses in-person group sessions with trained interventionists and aims to establish metrics for recruitment, retention, attendance, fidelity, and satisfaction to inform a future fully powered trial.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the study could support feasible, acceptable options for teen mood treatment that can be tested further in larger trials.

How similar studies have gone: Previous work has explored yoga and CBT for adolescent depression, with mixed but promising signals; this pilot aims to establish feasibility and preliminary signals.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Set A Inclusion Criteria. In order to be eligible to participate in this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria:

1. Have elevated depressive symptoms, defined by: a) a score of 1 or greater on the PHQ-2 and 5 or greater on the PHQ-8 at screening; and b) a score of 10 or higher on the Quick Inventory of Depression-Adolescent Version-Clinician Rating (QIDS-A-CR), including either sad mood or anhedonia;
2. Be aged 12-18;
3. Be allowed to participate in gym class or sports at school (or, if not, medically cleared by their primary care provider or other relevant healthcare provider);
4. Be able to read and write in English;
5. Provide consent/assent appropriate to age;
6. Be able to attend group session times:
7. Have access to a private space once per week that is suitable for synchronous intervention sessions.

Set A Exclusion criteria: Adolescents will be excluded if they:

1. Meet criteria for lifetime bipolar I disorder, a current psychotic disorder, or current anorexia or bulimia; or currently be in treatment for anorexia or bulimia;
2. Meet criteria for substance use disorder (SUD) in the previous 12 months, with current symptoms of sufficient severity to interfere with study participation;
3. Have severe depression (QIDS-A-CR score \> = 16);
4. Have moderate or high risk for suicide (Response of "yes" on CSSRS-Screener item 3,4,5,6 with regard to the past 3 months).
5. Have suicide ideation (Response of "yes" on CSSRS- Screener item 2) and do not currently have other mental health treatment (pharmacotherapy or psychotherapy)
6. Are pregnant;
7. Are currently (past 4 weeks) engaged in yoga classes or in gCBT;
8. Have had substantive changes in other psychiatric treatment in the previous 4 weeks (e.g., started a new depression medication; stopped or started attending psychotherapy).
9. Have a sibling or other household member active in a study intervention (for this study) at the same time.

Set B Eligibility criteria

Participants who are not eligible for Set A may be enrolled in Phase 2 Set B, such that they will be eligible to attend classes but their data will not be considered in our main analyses.

Set B Inclusion Criteria. In order to be eligible to participate in this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria:

1. Have elevated depressive symptoms, defined by: a) a score of 1 or greater on the PHQ-2 and 5 or greater on the PHQ-8 at screening; and b) a score of 6 or higher on the Quick Inventory of Depression-Adolescent Version-Clinician Rating (QIDS-A-CR), including either sad mood or anhedonia;
2. Be aged 12-18;
3. Be allowed to participate in gym class or sports at school (or, if not, medically cleared by their primary care provider or other relevant healthcare provider);
4. Be able to read and write in English;
5. Provide consent/assent appropriate to age;
6. Be able to attend group session times:
7. Have access to a private space once per week that is suitable for synchronous intervention sessions.

Set B Exclusion criteria: Adolescents will be excluded if they:

1. Meet criteria for lifetime bipolar I disorder, a current psychotic disorder, or current anorexia or bulimia; or currently be in treatment for anorexia or bulimia;
2. Meet criteria for substance use disorder (SUD) in the previous 12 months, with current symptoms of sufficient severity to interfere with study participation;
3. Have severe depression (QIDS-A-CR score \> = 16);
4. Have moderate or high risk for suicide (Response of "yes" on CSSRS-Screener item 3,4,5,6 with regard to the past 3 months).
5. Have suicide ideation (Response of "yes" on CSSRS- Screener item 2) and do not currently have other mental health treatment (pharmacotherapy or psychotherapy)
6. Are pregnant;
7. Are currently (past 4 weeks) engaged in yoga classes or in gCBT;
8. Have a sibling or other household member active in a study intervention (for this study) at the same time.

Where it's running

  • Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
    Boston, Massachusetts, United States
    Recruiting
  • Nationwide Children's Hospital
    Columbus, Ohio, United States
    Recruiting

Study contacts

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.