The goal of this Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (K-01) application is to enable Dr. McCarty to make the transition from conducting basic research understanding the context of youth psychopathology to the development and testing of multi-component prevention programs targeting youth depression, thus launching her career as an independent investigator focused on preventive intervention research. The overall goal of her long-term program of research is to utilize knowledge of child and adolescent development, both in community and clinical populations, to advance programs that will effectively disrupt the escalation of depression and depressive symptomatology for at-risk youth. To pursue this goal, the applicant will expand her training in three areas: (1) developing expertise in prevention science, (2) applying knowledge from basic behavioral research to intervention development and modification, and (3) receiving advanced training in longitudinal data analysis, modeling techniques, and research methods. The applicant's strong background of academic and research training in child psychopathology, evidence-based treatments, and methodology and statistics provides an excellent foundation for this work. The proposed award will encompass three stages of research that will cumulatively build a foundation for a larger prevention trial. First, using a sample of 550 youth that are being followed longitudinally between 6th and 8th grade, contextual factors that predict the growth and timing of depressive symptoms during these two years will be identified. The results of this longitudinal examination of contextual risks together with the broader literature on risks and prevention will be applied to the modification of an existing, well-tested prevention program (""""""""Coping with Stress""""""""). The core of the intervention will involve cognitive and behavioral skill building with modifications made to make it developmentally appropriate for a younger cohort of children, and to enhance supports and manage stressors within the family, peer, and school contexts. The third stage of research will entail pilot testing of the overall cognitive-behavioral-ecological prevention program using a school-based sample of 60 youth. The data collected will form the basis for a future R-01 research proposal to study an expanded application of the prevention program that will be generated.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Scientist Development Award - Research & Training (K01)
Project #
5K01MH069892-02
Application #
6911643
Study Section
Psychosocial Development, Risk and Prevention Study Section (PDRP)
Program Officer
Boyce, Cheryl A
Project Start
2004-07-01
Project End
2009-04-30
Budget Start
2005-05-01
Budget End
2006-04-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2005
Total Cost
$117,328
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Washington
Department
Pediatrics
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
605799469
City
Seattle
State
WA
Country
United States
Zip Code
98195
McCarty, Carolyn A; Kosterman, Rick; Mason, W Alex et al. (2009) Longitudinal associations among depression, obesity and alcohol use disorders in young adulthood. Gen Hosp Psychiatry 31:442-50
McCarty, Carolyn A; Mason, W Alex; Kosterman, Rick et al. (2008) Adolescent school failure predicts later depression among girls. J Adolesc Health 43:180-7
McCarty, Carolyn A; Vander Stoep, Ann; McCauley, Elizabeth (2007) Cognitive features associated with depressive symptoms in adolescence: directionality and specificity. J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol 36:147-58
McCarty, Carolyn A; Weisz, John R (2007) Effects of psychotherapy for depression in children and adolescents: what we can (and can't) learn from meta-analysis and component profiling. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 46:879-86
McCarty, Carolyn A; Stoep, Ann Vander; Kuo, Elena S et al. (2006) Depressive Symptoms Among Delinquent Youth: Testing Models of Association with Stress and Support. J Psychopathol Behav Assess 28:85-93
Weisz, John R; McCarty, Carolyn A; Valeri, Sylvia M (2006) Effects of psychotherapy for depression in children and adolescents: a meta-analysis. Psychol Bull 132:132-49
Sander, Janay B; McCarty, Carolyn A (2005) Youth depression in the family context: familial risk factors and models of treatment. Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev 8:203-19