Neural Mechanisms of Family-Focused Treatment for Youth Depression

"This intervention includes 12 one-hour, in-person sessions. FFT-CD was designed to help families gain skills to combat depression and create ways of interacting that protect the child from the negative sequelae of stress. Within a broad psychoeducational framework, interpersonal factors impacting youth depression and the interplay of mood and interpersonal interactions are emphasized. Participants are taught to identify Upward Spirals - positive interactions fueling positive moods leading further upward - and Downward Spirals - negative interactions fueling negative moods leading further downward. The treatment rationale is to stop downward spirals and to start upward spirals; this idea provides a foundation for skills building to help the child and family better navigate stress. Handouts, role-playing, behavioral rehearsal, and homework assignments are all used to help shape behaviors."