Application and Evaluation of Transference Focused Psychotherapy Modified for Adolescents (TFP-A)

The recruitment status of this study is unknown because the information has not been verified recently.

Verified January 2011 by Weill Medical College of Cornell University.
Recruitment status was Recruiting

Sponsor:

Information provided by:

Weill Medical College of Cornell University

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:

NCT00571571

First received: December 11, 2007

Last updated: January 3, 2011

Last verified: January 2011

History of Changes

Purpose

Normal adolescence requires a successful resolution of identity crisis, which results in the development of satisfying relationships, success in school/work pursuits, and achievement of personal goals. Adolescents, who do not resolve this crisis, are at high risk for problems in those areas of functioning. Transference Focused Psychotherapy for Adolescents (TFP-A) is a treatment that specifically addresses these issues, permitting adolescents to develop satisfying friendships, more appropriate interactions with authority, and achieve realistic life goals.

This study will evaluate the application of TFP-A, (a empirically validated treatment for adults with identity disturbance), to adolescents exhibiting the same behavioral and identity pathology. Subjects will be females; ages 14-21, with behaviors associated with identity problems, interpersonal difficulties with teachers, parents and/or peers, and live with their families. These adolescents will be randomly assigned to one of two treatment cells, TFP-A or Treatment as Usual (TAU). Subjects in TFP-A will receive weekly individual therapy for six months. The TAU group will receive standard individual therapy in the Outpatient Department. Both will receive medication as necessary. All subjects will participate in initial, weekly, and bi-monthly assessments during the six-month treatment period, and participate in a naturalistic follow-up study for an additional six months.

Hypothesis:

Adolescents with identity problems as seen in interpersonal, school, and/or family difficulties in the Transference Focused Psychotherapy for Adolescents (TFP-A) group will reduce these problem behaviors and improve management of their feelings and moods compared to adolescents with identity problems in the treatment as usual control group (TAU).

Condition	Intervention
Identity Pathology Behavior Problems	Behavioral: Psychotherapy Behavioral: Individual Psychotherapy

Study Type:	Interventional
Study Design:	Allocation: Randomized Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment Masking: Open Label Primary Purpose: Treatment
Official Title:	Application and Evaluation of Transference Focused Psychotherapy Modified for Adolescents

Further study details as provided by Weill Medical College of Cornell University:

Primary Outcome Measures:

Reduction in interpersonal difficulties with parents, teachers, and/or peers. Improved management of their feelings and moods. Reduction in other problems behaviors (i.e. substance use, self-injurious behaviors) [ Time Frame: Subjects will be assessed at entry, 2 month, 4 months, 6 months, 8 months 10 months, and 12 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]

Estimated Enrollment:	20
Study Start Date:	October 2007
Estimated Study Completion Date:	December 2009
Estimated Primary Completion Date:	December 2009 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)

Arms	Assigned Interventions
Experimental: TFP-A Specific aspects of TFP-A involve the setting up of a treatment contract/collaboration between patient and therapist to deal with the likely threats both to the treatment and to the patient's well being that may occur in the course of the treatment. After the behavioral symptoms of identity pathology are contained through structure and limit setting, the psychological structure that is believed to be the core of identity pathology are analyzed. In particular, treatment would involve the family in setting up the contract parameters, provide a psychoeducational component to the family and patient, inclusion of school personnel as appropriate to reinforce contract parameters, place an emphasis on the technique of clarification to understand specific emotional states.	Behavioral: Psychotherapy Individual psychotherapy with parent collateral/psychoeducation as necessary. Other Names: TFP-A Transference Focused Psychotherapy for Adolescents
Active Comparator: Control The Control Group is treatment as usual in the outpatient clinic. Treatment in this arm will be carried out by therapists in the Outpatient Department. Treatment will be determined by the therapist(s) and carried out according to their particular orientation and their assessment of patient's needs. It is expected based on clinic data that the majority of patients will be seen at least one time per week.	Behavioral: Individual Psychotherapy Individual psychotherapy and family interventions (as needed)

Arms

Assigned Interventions

Experimental: TFP-A

Specific aspects of TFP-A involve the setting up of a treatment contract/collaboration between patient and therapist to deal with the likely threats both to the treatment and to the patient's well being that may occur in the course of the treatment. After the behavioral symptoms of identity pathology are contained through structure and limit setting, the psychological structure that is believed to be the core of identity pathology are analyzed. In particular, treatment would involve the family in setting up the contract parameters, provide a psychoeducational component to the family and patient, inclusion of school personnel as appropriate to reinforce contract parameters, place an emphasis on the technique of clarification to understand specific emotional states.

Behavioral: Psychotherapy

Individual psychotherapy with parent collateral/psychoeducation as necessary.

Other Names:

TFP-A
Transference Focused Psychotherapy for Adolescents

Active Comparator: Control

The Control Group is treatment as usual in the outpatient clinic. Treatment in this arm will be carried out by therapists in the Outpatient Department. Treatment will be determined by the therapist(s) and carried out according to their particular orientation and their assessment of patient's needs. It is expected based on clinic data that the majority of patients will be seen at least one time per week.

Behavioral: Individual Psychotherapy

Individual psychotherapy and family interventions (as needed)

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:	14 Years to 21 Years
Genders Eligible for Study:	Female
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:	No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Female Adolescents, ages 14-21
A score of five out of nine critical items on the Borderline Personality Disorder Dimension Interview Scale.
Have interpersonal difficulties in school, family, and/or peer functioning.
Live at home with family.
Willingness to attend evaluation sessions and weekly, individual therapy.

Exclusion Criteria:

The presence of psychosis, substance dependence, non-verbal learning disability, antisocial behavior, and/or primary diagnoses of eating disorder, bipolar disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
The need for hospitalization for symptom management.
Significant cognitive impairment (Full Scale IQ <85).
The presence of a life-threatening medical illness.

Contacts and Locations

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00571571

Contacts

Contact: Anna E Odom, Ph.D.	914-997-5946	ano9021@med.cornell.edu
Contact: Pamela A Foelsch, Ph.D.	212-213-9879

Locations

United States, New York
New York-Presbyterian Hospital	Recruiting
White Plains, New York, United States, 10605
Contact: Maura L Lehr, LCSW 914-997-5866 mll9001@nyp.org
Principal Investigator: Anna E Odom, Ph.D.

Sponsors and Collaborators

Weill Medical College of Cornell University

Investigators

Principal Investigator:

Anna E Odom, Ph.D.

Weill Medical College of Cornell University

More Information

Publications:

Clarkin JF, Foelsch PA, Levy KN, Hull JW, Delaney JC, Kernberg OF. The development of a psychodynamic treatment for patients with borderline personality disorder: a preliminary study of behavioral change. J Personal Disord. 2001 Dec;15(6):487-95.

Clarkin JF, Levy KN, Lenzenweger MF, Kernberg OF. Evaluating three treatments for borderline personality disorder: a multiwave study. Am J Psychiatry. 2007 Jun;164(6):922-8.

Clarkin JF, Levy KN, Lenzenweger MF, Kernberg OF. The Personality Disorders Institute/Borderline Personality Disorder Research Foundation randomized control trial for borderline personality disorder: rationale, methods, and patient characteristics. J Personal Disord. 2004 Feb;18(1):52-72.

Responsible Party:	Anna E. Odom, Ph.D., Weill Cornell Medical College
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:	NCT00571571 History of Changes
Other Study ID Numbers:	0610008834
Study First Received:	December 11, 2007
Last Updated:	January 3, 2011
Health Authority:	United States: Institutional Review Board

Keywords provided by Weill Medical College of Cornell University:

Identity difussion
Adolescent psychotherapy
Transference Focused Psychotherapy for Adolescents

Identity
Identity crisis
Identity pathology

ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on May 22, 2013

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