The Use of SmartPhone App (Kandoo) to Enhance Efficacy of Brief Behavioral Activation in Reducing Mood Disorder Symptoms

The current project is a pilot study that seeks to compare the efficacy of Brief Behavioral Activation's treatment-as-usual that uses paper and pencil tools to Kandoo, a digital, gamified version of activity scheduling and self-monitoring, in a diverse sample of youth presenting with clinically significant symptoms of depression. We will compare the level of pre- and post-treatment depressive symptoms in participants, who will participate in an 8-week brief behavioral activation treatment protocol augmented with Kandoo to the pre- and post- treatment depressive symptoms in the control participants, who will participate in 8-week, treatment as usual, brief behavioral activation treatment protocol. To explore treatment response for the clinically significant symptoms, we will obtain pre- and post-treatment measures of depression, global functioning, and patient goals. During the standard clinical intake, additional information will be obtained, including detailed demographics, medical history, mental health status, and social skills. Beyond determining the overall effectiveness of BBA augmented with Kandoo, the sample diversity and availability of clinical behavioral observations of the participants will permit the development of explanatory models of predictive factors for BBA with Kandoo intervention outcomes.