Get ActivE Study for At-risk Youth
The study will adapt and deploy a digital Behavioral Activation app with mobile sensing, supported by health coaches, that encourages youth to engage in positive activities. The study has the potential to offer a low-cost and scalable behavioral intervention that may decrease risk of suicide among at-risk youth. This research will examine specifically whether an intervention involving an app called Vira, combined with health coaching (GET ActivE) can improve enjoyment for teens coping with depression. Research…
Conditions studied
Anhedonia, Depression and Suicide Ideation
About this study
The study will adapt and deploy a digital Behavioral Activation app with mobile sensing, supported by health coaches, that encourages youth to engage in positive activities. The study has the potential to offer a low-cost and scalable behavioral intervention that may decrease risk of suicide among at-risk youth. This research will examine specifically whether an intervention involving an app called Vira, combined with health coaching (GET ActivE) can improve enjoyment for teens coping with depression. Research participants will be randomly assigned to one of two study intervention. One study intervention involves a) downloading an app called Vira and engaging by responding to a daily question, and b) participating in a conversation via text, phone, or messages through an appt with a health coach. The health coach will use the Vira app and principles from evidence-based therapy and behavior change to provide users with insights to sustain well-being and better manage risk factors for suicidal thoughts and behaviors such as depressed mood and behavioral withdrawal. The second study intervention involves downloading an app called EARS and responding to a daily question.
Interventions
- Behavioral: GET ActivE — The GET ActivE health coach will review data from the Vira app and send nudges to the participant with insights encouraging them to engage in activities that bring enjoyment or pleasure.
- Behavioral: Treatment As Usual — Participants randomized to Treatment As Usual may have access to activity data from an app and receive summary information about activity patterns at the end of their participation.
Primary outcomes
- GET ActivE Feasibility (3 months)
- Response to Health coach contacts (3 months)
- GET ActivE Acceptability (Post intervention follow up; up to 3 months)
- GET ActivE Appropriateness (Post intervention follow up; up to 3 months)
Eligibility information
Study locations
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104 United States
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213 United States
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov. Record last refreshed by Varda Clinical: 2026-09-27.