Completed

CAST-T/HSTSMiddle School to High School Transition Project

What is being tested

CAST-T/HSTS

+ Brief Intervention

Behavioral

Who is being recruted

Behavior+3

+ Mental Disorders

+ Behavioral Symptoms

From 12 to 15 Years

+4 Eligibility Criteria

See all eligibility criteria

How is the trial designed

Prevention Study

Phase 1

Interventional

Study Start: March 2003

See protocol details

Summary

Principal SponsorUniversity of Washington

Last updated: January 27, 2026

Sourced from a government-validated database.Claim as a partner

Study start date: March 1, 2003

Actual date on which the first participant was enrolled.

The transition from middle school to high school presents important challenges for adolescents. Programs that enhance personal efficacy and social support resources may prevent at-risk students from developing behaviors that can lead to substance use, academic failure, and depression. This study will implement a skills-based program called Coping and Support Training for the Transition (CAST-T) as a preventive intervention for at-risk students. At-risk students in eighth grade will be randomly assigned to receive either CAST-T or school as usual. The CAST-T program will initially be delivered in twelve sessions over 6 weeks in the middle school setting. The program includes booster sessions, case management, structured home-based parent education, and support and skills training throughout the transition period. Participants will be assessed from the beginning of eighth grade to the end of ninth grade. Vulnerability to academic problems and depression will be assessed with school records and self-report scale scores.

Official TitleMiddle School to High School Transition Project

NCT00071513

Principal SponsorUniversity of Washington

Last updated: January 27, 2026

Sourced from a government-validated database.Claim as a partner

Protocol

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

Design Details

497 patients to be enrolled

Total number of participants that the clinical trial aims to recruit.

Prevention Study

Prevention studies aim to stop a disease from developing. They often involve people at risk and test things like vaccines, lifestyle changes, or preventive medications.

Eligibility

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria: person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Conditions

Criteria

Any sex

Biological sex of participants that are eligible to enroll.

From 12 to 15 Years

Range of ages for which participants are eligible to join.

Healthy volunteers allowed

If individuals who are healthy and do not have the condition being studied can participate.

Conditions

Pathology

BehaviorMental DisordersBehavioral SymptomsDepressionSubstance-Related DisordersChemically-Induced Disorders

Criteria

3 inclusion criteria required to participate

At-risk for substance abuse, academic failure, and depression

Enrolled in eighth grade in Seattle Public Schools

English-speaking

1 exclusion criteria prevent from participating

Score above the clinical cutoff on the Youth Self Report Aggressive subscale

Study Plan

Find out more about all the medication administered in this study, their detailed description and what they involve.

Treatment Groups

Study Objectives

2 intervention groups are designated in this study

This study does not include a placebo group

Treatment Groups

Group I

Experimental

The CAST-T/HSTS condition combined the Brief Intervention and 12 school based small group sessions which taught skills to enhance personal control (to manage depression, anger, stress), self-esteem, decision making and interpersonal communications. HSTS skills groups were held in the spring of 8th grade with 4 one-on-one booster sessions delivered to the students as 9th graders by HSTP leaders; parents also participated in 4 sessions. HSTS objectives are: 1) to increase the acquisition of coping skills competencies by teaching and practicing strategies taught; 2) to increase social support resources by building a supportive network; 3) to increase the youth's engagement in positive social activities; and 4) to motivate parents to increase their support via parent educational sessions.

Group II

Active Comparator

Brief Intervention: After each youth and parent completed baseline questionnaires the youth participated in a 1 on 1 standardized clinical follow-up with a trained clinician (blind to study condition) to review areas of concern, based on questionnaire responses including stressors at school, home, and with peers, level of support available and how to access support. The teen and clinician then planned a feedback call to parents, allowing teens to shape requests for support from parents as well as understand exactly what information would be shared with parents. Feedback call to parents reviewed concerns and made recommendations for services as needed. A similar procedure was followed after each assessment for all participants who indicated a risk of clinical depression or self-harm.

Study Objectives

Primary Objectives

Study Centers

These are the hospitals, clinics, or research facilities where the trial is being conducted. You can find the location closest to you and its status.

This study has 1 location

Suspended

University of Washington

Seattle, United StatesOpen University of Washington in Google Maps

CompletedOne Study Center