Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Recruiting

NCT Number: NCT05685368

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Adolescents and Young Adults With Sickle Cell Disease

The current study seeks to build on previous research that demonstrates the efficacy of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in combating stigma by investigating the feasibility and acceptability of a protocol to support Black adolescents and young adults in coping with race related stress. The study will consist of a small, purposeful, non-randomized sample (N = 30) of clients enrolled into a 10-session Acceptance and Commitment Therapy group. The group will be offered as part of regular clinical care at the Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine. Three consecutive groups will be run with approximately 8-10 participants in each group over the next year.

Recruiting

Interested in participating?

Request Info

Key information

Age range

14 year–21 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 1 / Phase 2

Primary location

Children's Hospital Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California, 90027, United States

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Xzania W Lee, Ph.D.

CONTACT

[email protected]

323-361-4768

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Youth Participant Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria The inclusion criteria for study participation are Be an adolescent and/or young adult (age 14-21) who has Sickle Cell Disease Willing to enroll in the ACT group jointly provided by the Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine/Department of Hematology and Oncology Participants can be active, waitlisted, or new patients at CHLA Participants must be able to understand and speak English, as the therapy will only be delivered in English Participants must have an English-speaking parent/guardian Able to provide consent/assent An adolescent or young adult that is pregnant is eligible to participate if consent can be obtained Participants must be developmentally typical Have a stable internet connection (via computer, tablet, or phone) with access to a webcam and a private space to engage in a group therapy sessions; Must consent to audio and video recording of initial interview. Must agree to attend 6 weekly ACT group session Youth participants will be asked to become a member of the CAB. To become a CAB member, the youth participant must consent/assent to participation in the ACT intervention. If a CAB member, they must be willing to engage in CAB interviews and meetings.

The exclusion criteria are:

Prisoners or youth in detention centers Unable to understand or speak English Does not have SCD Clients who are at significant risk for suicide and self-injury will be excluded due to the intense levels of support required to support these individuals which would interfere with study procedures.

Adolescents with families that require frequent intervention from the Department of Children and Family Services, are currently experiencing psychosis, or have severe health concerns that will impact study participation or attendance will be excluded.

Treatment and study plan

ACT for SCD

Behavioral

Phase I Using a convenience sample, this study examines the feasibility and acceptability of a proposed 6-session ACT group intervention for Black youth with sickle cell disease (SCD), who experience compounded stress due to chronic illness and systemic inequities. A up to 11 youth and up to 11 parents/legal guardians will be enrolled in an ACT group offered via the Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine. Participants will complete assessments at pre-, and post-intervention, and at a 3-month follow-up. Up to 5 of 11 parents/legal guardians and 5 of 11 youth (not required to be dyadic) will also be a part of the studies community advisory board (CAB) to ensure the intervention is culturally and developmentally responsive and grounded in community perspectives.

Phase II Over the next 3 years this study will use a community-based participatory action research approach, extending and integrating feedback data collected in Phase I, to conduct a crossover waitlist-control trial.

Primary outcomes

  1. Total Score on Index of Race-Related Stress (IRRS)-Brief Version

    Time frame: 12 weeks

    Higher scores on this measure indicate greater race-related stress. The minimum score on this measure is 0 and the maximum is 88.

  2. Sickle Cell Self-Efficacy Scale

    Time frame: 6 mos

    a 9-item, self-administered questionnaire that measures an adult's confidence in managing sickle cell disease (SCD) day-to-day, including pain, emotions, and daily functioning.

  3. SCD Health-Related Internalized Stigma Scale

    Time frame: 6 mos

    an 11-item tool assessing internalized stigma and other factors in sickle cell disease (SCD) patients

  4. Transition Readiness Assessment Questionnaire (TRAQ),

    Time frame: 6 mos

    measure acquisition of transition readiness skills across the five stages of change

Secondary outcomes

  1. Total Scores on Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-2

    Time frame: 12 weeks

    Higher scores on this measure indicate greater psychological flexibility. The minimum score on this measure is 7 and the maximum is 49.

  2. Total Scores on Multidimensional Inventory of Black Identity-Teen (MIBI-t)

    Time frame: 12 weeks

    Higher scores on this measure indicate stronger racial identity. The minimum score on this measure is 21 and the maximum is 105.

  3. Total Score on Patient Health Questionaire-9

    Time frame: 12 weeks

    Higher scores indicate greater depression. The minimum score on this measure is 0 and the maximum is 27.

  4. Total Score on General Anxiety Disorder-7

    Time frame: 12 weeks

    Higher scores indicate greater anxiety. The minimum score on this measure is 0 and the maximum is 21.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Xzania Lee, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

323.361.4768

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Children's Hospital Los Angeles

Other

Collaborators

  • University of Southern California & Children's Hospital Los Angeles (USC-CHLA)

Registry information

Official study title

Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to Promote Mental Health and Transition Readiness in Youth With Sickle Cell Disease: A Community-Based Participatory Action Research (CBPAR) Approach

Acronym: ACT for SCD

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2029
Study completion
2029
First posted
Jan 17, 2023
Registry last updated
May 6, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.