DepressionMINDUP-PAKNCT07468994
Effect of the MindUP Program on Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in Pakistani Orphan Adolescents
A study testing MindUP Program in people with Depression and Anxiety, run by Quaid-e-Azam University at 1 site in Pakistan.
Trial summary
This study evaluates the effectiveness of the MindUP mindfulness-based program in reducing depression, anxiety, and stress among orphan adolescents in Pakistan. Adolescents living in orphan care institutions often experience significant psychological distress due to early life adversity, loss of parental support, and… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 11 to 16 years, men onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Depression, Anxiety, Stress
- What is being tested?
- MindUP Program
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 61 participants
- Where
- 1 sitePakistan
- Study dates
- 8 Jun 2024to 28 Sep 2024
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 11 to 16 years
- Men only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child
Who may be able to join
- Male adolescents aged 11-16 years.
- Residing in an orphan care institution.
- Currently enrolled in school (grades 7-8).
- Able to understand and participate in the MindUP program sessions.
- Provided assent to participate and permission obtained from the institutional authorities/guardians.
Who cannot join
- Adolescents currently receiving psychological or psychiatric treatment.
- Adolescents with severe cognitive or developmental disorders that would interfere with participation in the intervention.
- Adolescents who did not complete baseline assessments or were absent for most intervention sessions.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Pakistan1 site
Aghosh Alkhidmat Foundation College Murree
Islamabad, Islamabad, 44000
About this study
Official title: Does MindUP Work With Pakistani Orphan Adolescents? Assessing Its Efficacy in Lowering Depression, Anxiety and Stress
This study evaluates the effectiveness of the MindUP mindfulness-based program in reducing depression, anxiety, and stress among orphan adolescents in Pakistan. Adolescents living in orphan care institutions often experience significant psychological distress due to early life adversity, loss of parental support, and institutional living conditions.
A school-based quasi-experimental design was used to examine whether participation in the MindUP program improves mental health outcomes among orphan adolescents. Participants were adolescents residing in orphanages in Pakistan who were assigned to either an intervention group receiving the MindUP program or a comparison group receiving routine institutional activities.
Read more
The MindUP intervention consisted of structured mindfulness and social-emotional learning sessions designed to enhance emotional regulation, attention, and psychological well-being. The program was delivered over several weeks by trained facilitators.
Psychological outcomes including depression, anxiety, and stress were measured using standardized self-report scales before and after the intervention. The study aims to determine whether the MindUP program is effective in improving mental health among orphan adolescents in low-resource institutional settings.
- Conditions
- Depression, Anxiety, Stress
- Being tested
- MindUP Program
- Keywords
- MindUP, Mindfulness Intervention, Orphan Adolescents, Mental Health, Pakistan, School based intervention
- Medical subject headings
- Depression, Anxiety Disorders, Psychological Well-Being
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
MindUP ProgramBehavioural
MindUP is a mindfulness-based social and emotional learning program that teaches participants skills related to mindful awareness, emotional regulation, attention, and stress management through structured exercises and activities.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| MindUP Intervention Group | Experimental | Participants in this group received the MindUP mindfulness-based intervention program designed to improve emotional regulation, attention, and psychological well-being. The program consisted of structured sessions focusing on mindfulness practices, social-emotional learning, and awareness exercises delivered over several weeks. Receives: Behavioral: MindUP Program |
| Control Group | No intervention | Participants in this group continued their routine institutional activities and did not receive the MindUP intervention during the study period. Psychological outcomes were assessed at the same time points as the intervention group. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in Depression Symptoms (DASS-21 Depression Subscale)
Depression symptoms were measured using the Depression subscale of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21). Higher scores indicate greater levels of depressive symptoms. Changes from baseline to post-intervention were assessed to evaluate the effectiveness of the MindUP program.
Measured: Baseline to Post-Intervention (15 weeks)
Secondary outcomes (2)
Change in Stress Levels (DASS-21 Stress Subscale)
Measured: Baseline to Post-Intervention (15 weeks)
Change in Anxiety Symptoms (DASS-21 Anxiety Subscale)
Measured: Baseline to Post-Intervention (15 weeks)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted13 Mar 2026
- Study start8 Jun 2024
- Primary completion21 Sep 2024
- Study completion28 Sep 2024
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for DepressionStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Participants were assigned to two parallel groups: an intervention group receiving the MindUP mindfulness-based program and a comparison group receiving routine institutional activities. Outcomes were measured at baseline and post-intervention to assess changes in depression, anxiety, and stress.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 61 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Quaid-e-Azam University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Atteen Rohail, Quaid-e-Azam University
- Investigators
- Rubina Hanif, PhD, Principal investigator, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad.
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07468994
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- NIP-MINDUP-2026
- Acronym
- MINDUP-PAK
- Status last verified
- Mar 2026
- First submitted
- 9 Mar 2026
- Last updated
- 13 Mar 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 13 Mar 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Does MindUP Work With Pakistani Orphan Adolescents? Assessing Its Efficacy in Lowering Depression, Anxiety and Stress
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07468994
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- MINDUP-PAK / NIP-MINDUP-2026
- Conditions
- Depression, Anxiety, Stress
- Keywords
- MindUP, Mindfulness Intervention, Orphan Adolescents, Mental Health, Pakistan, School based intervention
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 61 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Quaid-e-Azam UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 8 Jun 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 21 Sep 2024 (actual)
- Study completion
- 28 Sep 2024 (actual)
- First posted
- 13 Mar 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study evaluates the effectiveness of the MindUP mindfulness-based program in reducing depression, anxiety, and stress among orphan adolescents in Pakistan. Adolescents living in orphan care institutions often experience significant psychological distress due to early life adversity, loss of parental support, and institutional living conditions.
A school-based quasi-experimental design was used to examine whether participation in the MindUP program improves mental health outcomes among orphan adolescents. Participants were adolescents residing in orphanages in Pakistan who were assigned to either an intervention group receiving the MindUP program or a comparison group receiving routine institutional activities.
The MindUP intervention consisted of structured mindfulness and social-emotional learning sessions designed to enhance emotional regulation, attention, and psychological well-being. The program was delivered over several weeks by trained facilitators.
Psychological outcomes including depression, anxiety, and stress were measured using standardized self-report scales before and after the intervention. The study aims to determine whether the MindUP program is effective in improving mental health among orphan adolescents in low-resource institutional settings.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Participants were assigned to two parallel groups: an intervention group receiving the MindUP mindfulness-based program and a comparison group receiving routine institutional activities. Outcomes were measured at baseline and post-intervention to assess changes in depression, anxiety, and stress.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| MindUP Intervention Group | Experimental | Behavioral: MindUP ProgramParticipants in this group received the MindUP mindfulness-based intervention program designed to improve emotional regulation, attention, and psychological well-being. The program consisted of structured sessions focusing on mindfulness practices, social-emotional learning, and awareness exercises delivered over several weeks. |
| Control Group | No intervention | –Participants in this group continued their routine institutional activities and did not receive the MindUP intervention during the study period. Psychological outcomes were assessed at the same time points as the intervention group. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 11 to 16 years
- Sex
- Male only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Male adolescents aged 11-16 years.
- Residing in an orphan care institution.
- Currently enrolled in school (grades 7-8).
- Able to understand and participate in the MindUP program sessions.
- Provided assent to participate and permission obtained from the institutional authorities/guardians.
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Adolescents currently receiving psychological or psychiatric treatment.
- Adolescents with severe cognitive or developmental disorders that would interfere with participation in the intervention.
- Adolescents who did not complete baseline assessments or were absent for most intervention sessions.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| MindUP ProgramMindUP is a mindfulness-based social and emotional learning program that teaches participants skills related to mindful awareness, emotional regulation, attention, and stress management through structured exercises and activities. | Behavioural | MindUP Intervention Group |
Primary outcome
Change in Depression Symptoms (DASS-21 Depression Subscale)
Time frame: Baseline to Post-Intervention (15 weeks)
Depression symptoms were measured using the Depression subscale of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21). Higher scores indicate greater levels of depressive symptoms. Changes from baseline to post-intervention were assessed to evaluate the effectiveness of the MindUP program.
2 secondary outcomes
Change in Stress Levels (DASS-21 Stress Subscale)
Time frame: Baseline to Post-Intervention (15 weeks)
Change in Anxiety Symptoms (DASS-21 Anxiety Subscale)
Time frame: Baseline to Post-Intervention (15 weeks)
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 13 Mar 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Rubina Hanif, PhD principal investigator
Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing MindUP Program in people with Depression and Anxiety, run by Quaid-e-Azam University at 1 site in Pakistan.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 13 Mar 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Pakistan. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in Depression Symptoms (DASS-21 Depression Subscale) (time frame: Baseline to Post-Intervention (15 weeks)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 13 Mar 2026.