Depression SymptomsNCT07605975
Measuring and Enhancing Creativity and Brain Flexibility in Adolescents With Depression
A study testing Creativity Camp in people with Depression Symptoms, run by University of Minnesota at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
This research is designed to find out if engaging in creative activities will help adolescents with depression have more flexible thinking, start to see and appreciate their own talents, and develop a more positive view of themselves and their future. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 12 to 17 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Depression Symptoms
- What is being tested?
- Creativity Camp
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 160 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 1 Jun 2022to 31 Aug 2025
- 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 12 to 17 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child
Who may be able to join
- age 12-17 years
- Phase 1: no clinical diagnosis required.
- Phase 2: presence of at least "mild" depression symptoms as measured by a score of at least 12 on the parent-report Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) (completed in the screening form).
- Phase 2, Summer 2025 East African cohort: The adolescent identifies as East African.
- Phase 2, Summer 2025 Native American cohort: The adolescent identifies as Native American.
Who cannot join
- any MRI contraindications (e.g., claustrophobia, braces, pregnancy); Note: MRI exclusion is removed for Summer 2023 and 2025 cohorts since the neuroimaging has been removed from the protocol for those cohorts
- neurodevelopmental disorder such as intellectual disability or moderate / severe autism, as indicated by parent report;
- significant medical conditions that would interfere with participating in study activities;
- currently active suicidal ideation, and unable to agree to an appropriate safety plan
- history of significant neurological conditions that might confound MRI analyses (e.g., current and severe epilepsy, brain tumor). Note: this exclusion is removed for Summer 2023 and 2025 cohorts since they will not have MRI.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55455
About this study
This research is designed to find out if engaging in creative activities will help adolescents with depression have more flexible thinking, start to see and appreciate their own talents, and develop a more positive view of themselves and their future.
- Conditions
- Depression Symptoms
- Being tested
- Creativity Camp
- Keywords
- creative arts, adolescent depression
- Medical subject headings
- Depression
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Creativity CampOther
An 8-day creativity camp that includes a variety of different kinds of creative arts activities.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Creativity Camp | Experimental | All participants who enrolled in the study were assigned to the Creativity Camp.
In Summer 2022, participants were 1:1 randomized to "early" (2 weeks before camp, before camp, after camp) or "late" assessments (before camp, after camp, and 2 weeks after camp). This allowed for an approximation of a waitlist-control design, where we compared the changes during the "waitlist" (the two weeks before camp for the "early" group) to the changes during camp for the "active" group (changes from pre to post intervention for the "late" group) and also allowed us to explore short-term durability of effects in the "late" group.
In 2023 and 2025, since MRI was no longer required, clinical data were collected at all 4 time points: 2 weeks before, before camp, after camp, and 2 weeks after camp. This allows for analysis of the data using a "waitlist control" approach while not changing the experience at the level of the participant. Receives: Other: Creativity Camp |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Child Depression Inventory 2 (CDI-2).
The CDI (2) is a self-report questionnaire completed by child and parent separately. The Child CDI 2 is a 28-item measure of depression symptoms for youth ages 7-17. For each item, participants selected one of three choices that describe the severity of their symptoms over the past 2 weeks. Responses are: 0 (no symptoms), 1 (mild or probable symptoms), or 2 (definite symptoms). The 17-item Parent CDI 2, has four choices per item, ranging from 0 (not at all) to 3 (much or most of the time). For both child and parent reports, higher scores mean more severe depression.
Measured: Week 2
Secondary outcomes (4)
The Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders (SCARED)
The SCARED is a 41-item inventory of anxiety symptoms rated on a 3-point Likert-type scale. Higher scores mean higher severity of anxiety.
Measured: Month 3
The Zest for Life Scale (ZLS)
This 12-item questionnaire assesses engagement, enthusiasm, and positive outlook on life in the last week. Each of the 12 items is rated on a 9-point Likert scale ranging from 0 (not at all) to 8 (very strongly). The minimum possible score is 0, and the maximum is 96. Higher scores on the scale indicate a greater zest for life.
Measured: Week 1
The Flourishing Scale
In this 8-item questionnaire, participants rate on a 1-7 scale their agreement with statements regarding perceptions of their life's meaning and purpose, view of self and how they fit into the world. Maximum score is 56. Higher scores mean higher levels of well-being.
Measured: Week 2
The Satisfaction with Life Scale
The Satisfaction with Life Scale assesses overall life satisfaction, with 5 questions on a 1-7 scale. Maximum score is 35. Higher scores mean higher life satisfaction.
Measured: Week 2
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted26 May 2026
- Study start1 Jun 2022
- Primary completion31 Aug 2025
- Study completion31 Aug 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Depression SymptomsStudies 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
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 160 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Minnesota
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07605975
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- PSYCH-2021-30129
- Status last verified
- May 2026
- First submitted
- 18 May 2026
- Last updated
- 26 May 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 26 May 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Measuring and Enhancing Creativity and Brain Flexibility in Adolescents With Depression
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07605975
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- PSYCH-2021-30129
- Conditions
- Depression Symptoms
- Keywords
- creative arts, adolescent depression
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 160 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of MinnesotaUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Jun 2022 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Aug 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 31 Aug 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 26 May 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 research is designed to find out if engaging in creative activities will help adolescents with depression have more flexible thinking, start to see and appreciate their own talents, and develop a more positive view of themselves and their future.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Creativity Camp | Experimental | Other: Creativity CampAll participants who enrolled in the study were assigned to the Creativity Camp. In Summer 2022, participants were 1:1 randomized to "early" (2 weeks before camp, before camp, after camp) or "late" assessments (before camp, after camp, and 2 weeks after camp). This allowed for an approximation of a waitlist-control design, where we compared the changes during the "waitlist" (the two weeks before camp for the "early" group) to the changes during camp for the "active" group (changes from pre to post intervention for the "late" group) and also allowed us to explore short-term durability of effects in the "late" group. In 2023 and 2025, since MRI was no longer required, clinical data were collected at all 4 time points: 2 weeks before, before camp, after camp, and 2 weeks after camp. This allows for analysis of the data using a "waitlist control" approach while not changing the experience at the level of the participant. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 12 to 17 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- age 12-17 years
- Phase 1: no clinical diagnosis required.
- Phase 2: presence of at least "mild" depression symptoms as measured by a score of at least 12 on the parent-report Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) (completed in the screening form).
- Phase 2, Summer 2025 East African cohort: The adolescent identifies as East African.
- Phase 2, Summer 2025 Native American cohort: The adolescent identifies as Native American.
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- any MRI contraindications (e.g., claustrophobia, braces, pregnancy); Note: MRI exclusion is removed for Summer 2023 and 2025 cohorts since the neuroimaging has been removed from the protocol for those cohorts
- neurodevelopmental disorder such as intellectual disability or moderate / severe autism, as indicated by parent report;
- significant medical conditions that would interfere with participating in study activities;
- currently active suicidal ideation, and unable to agree to an appropriate safety plan
- history of significant neurological conditions that might confound MRI analyses (e.g., current and severe epilepsy, brain tumor). Note: this exclusion is removed for Summer 2023 and 2025 cohorts since they will not have MRI.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Creativity CampAn 8-day creativity camp that includes a variety of different kinds of creative arts activities. | Other | Creativity Camp |
Primary outcome
Child Depression Inventory 2 (CDI-2).
Time frame: Week 2
The CDI (2) is a self-report questionnaire completed by child and parent separately. The Child CDI 2 is a 28-item measure of depression symptoms for youth ages 7-17. For each item, participants selected one of three choices that describe the severity of their symptoms over the past 2 weeks. Responses are: 0 (no symptoms), 1 (mild or probable symptoms), or 2 (definite symptoms). The 17-item Parent CDI 2, has four choices per item, ranging from 0 (not at all) to 3 (much or most of the time). For both child and parent reports, higher scores mean more severe depression.
4 secondary outcomes
The Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders (SCARED)
Time frame: Month 3
The Zest for Life Scale (ZLS)
Time frame: Week 1
The Flourishing Scale
Time frame: Week 2
The Satisfaction with Life Scale
Time frame: Week 2
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 26 May 2026.
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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.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Creativity Camp in people with Depression Symptoms, run by University of Minnesota at 1 site in United States.
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 5 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 26 May 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 United States. 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?
Child Depression Inventory 2 (CDI-2). (time frame: Week 2). 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 26 May 2026.