Dana McMakin, Ph.D.

Fellow in Child & Adolescent Depression

Project Details

PROJECT TITLE

Targeting Brain-Behavior Correlates of Positive Affect in Adolescent Depression

PROJECT SUMMARY

The research aims to pilot a treatment module (Positive Affective Stimulation and Sustainment [PASS]) for adolescent depression that teaches strategies for strengthening positive affective functioning (PAF)–defined here as motivational, behavioral, and subjective aspects of positive emotions—and relevant neural underpinnings. PASS aims to improve the ability to sustain positive affective states, with the goal of strengthening connectivity in key fronto-mesolimbic reward-related circuits during a period of developmental maturation and plasticity. Prior piloting of this approach demonstrated preliminary feasibility and acceptability of the treatment approach (see Preliminary Data). The study will extend this work to include a broader assessment of PAF, and an exploration of underlying neural circuits, in a randomized controlled trial of PASS (n=20) relative to a supportive, Client Centered Therapy (CCT; n=20) among adolescents with depression (ages 12-18).

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