Research Program

Leadership
Joan Asarnow, PhD
Co-Director
Jeanne Miranda, PhD
Co-Director
About
The Youth Stress and Mood Program at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is dedicated to improving health and mental health in children and adolescents, and developing and evaluating treatments and services for depression and suicide prevention. Our program focuses on enhancing coping and stress management in children and adolescents, supporting families in caring for their children, and developing services to meet the needs of children and families. The program has federally funded research grants, provides clinical services, and involves collaborative work with community partners to strengthen community resources for depression and suicide prevention in youths.
Research
Current Research
Healthy Sleep
Project Summary
Chronic sleep loss in youths has been identified as one of the most common and fixable public health issues in the United States. Healthy sleep patterns are associated with healthier weight, lower risk of involvement in automobile accidents, better grades, higher test scores, lower depression levels, and reduced risk of suicidal behavior. The YSAM program has begun a series of studies focusing on better understanding the impact of sleep problems on teen functioning and health and developing strategies for improving sleep in youths.
Current status: Project live
Project SAFE
Project Summary
Project SAFE: Strengthening Adolescents and Families Everyday
We are currently recruiting participants 12–18 years of age and their parents to participate in a study testing a family-oriented strategy for helping teens to respond safely to stress in daily life. This study is intended to be an augmentation or an add-on to any existing treatment that the teen may be involved in; it is not intended to be a replacement. It involves the participation of a teen and at least one co-habiting caregiver. Your participation in the research may last up to a month. The teen and parent would be asked to complete one baseline assessment by phone, online or in-person, and additional brief tasks online via their smartphones. Eligible families will receive financial compensation up to $160.
Please email cvenables@mednet.ucla.edu or call 310-794-4962 now to learn more or participate!
Current status: Project live
Step2Health: Randomized Trial of Stepped Care for Suicide Prevention in Teens & Young Adults
Project Summary
YSAM and our collaborators at Kaiser Permanente have recently received funding to compare the effectiveness of two treatments for preventing suicide and suicide attempts among youth. Specifically, we are comparing a usual care strategy with a stepped care approach, with the goal of improving services for youth and their families. All recruitment is being conducted at Kaiser Permanente.
Current status: Project live
The ASAP Center for Trauma-Informed Adolescent Suicide, Self-Harm, and Substance Abuse Treatment and Prevention
Project Summary
With our collaborators at Duke University, YSAM has recently developed the ASAP Center for Trauma-Informed Adolescent Suicide, Self-Harm, and Substance Abuse Treatment and Prevention. This Center is a partner in the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) and is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Through our Center, we train clinicians and healthcare providers in the best available treatments for depression, self-harm, substance abuse, and suicide among youth.
Current status: Project live
Previous Research
CARES Study
Project Summary
Dialectical Behavior Therapy was originally developed for adults by Marsha Linehan, Ph.D. at University of Washington in Seattle. This treatment has been adapted for youths and is designed to enhance skills and help youths to cope with stress, regulate intense emotions, and improve relationships with others. The Y-SAM Program is currently offering DBT skills groups for teens (ages 12-18) and their parents. The treatment combines cognitive-behavioral treatment strategies with an emphasis on understanding and validating experiences that individuals have had and mindfulness – the art of being fully present in the moment. For more information on mindfulness, visit Mindful Awareness Research Center.
The Youth Stress & Mood Program (Y-SAM) has begun recruitment for a new research study comparing the benefits of dialectical behavior therapy and individual and group supportive therapy. Please continue to check our website (research participation section) and/or call 310 794-4962 for more information. Treatments through research studies are generally available at no cost to those who meet eligibility criteria and choose to participate in this study. For more information on Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Supportive Therapy at UCLA, please call: 310-794-4962.
Current status: Project Ended
S.O.S. (Systems of Support)
Project Summary
The S.O.S. program is a research study that provides treatment for childhood depression. Funded by the National Institutes of Health, the aim of the S.O.S. Program is to learn new and better ways for treating childhood depression. In this safe, supportive, and confidential study, experienced therapists work with your child and family to improve depression and quality of life. A multi-site treatment study located at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and Boston University (BU), the S.O.S. Program welcomes as participants children 7-13 years of age with childhood depression and at least one parent willing to take part in treatment.
Children eligible for the study will participate in one of two 14 week therapeutic programs designed to treat childhood depression:
- One program focuses on individual treatment in which the child will work one-on-one with a therapist. The goal is to provide emotional support and to encourage healthy behavior and coping.
- The other treatment program focuses on working with the family to help the child and parents work together to solve problems. The goal is to strengthen the child’s coping and teach the family how best to encourage their child’s healthy behavior.
Eligible children are assigned randomly (like flipping a coin) to either the individual or family treatment. The S.O.S. program aims to help children improve their ability to cope with distress and increase positive mood. In addition to receiving free treatment, families who take part in this program will also participate in three research interviews for which they will be paid.
For more information on the S.O.S. program, or to express interest in participating in this program, please call: 310-794-4962.
Current status: Project Ended
Primary Investigator: Joan Asarnow, Ph.D.
SAFETY Program
Project Summary
The SAFETY program focuses on youth suicide prevention. The program involves a clinical service as well as a research project funded by the National Institutes of Health and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. The SAFETY Program offers treatments for youths and families aimed at helping prevent suicide attempts, suicidal episodes, and self-injurious behavior by enhancing skills for coping with stress and learning new and more effective ways for preventing suicidal behavior.
For more information on the SAFETY program, please call: 310-794-4962.
Current status: Project Ended
Treatment
Youth Stress and Mood Program
YSAM PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The YSAM program focuses on depression and suicide prevention. Services are designed for children and adolescents who have problems with depression, emotion regulation, suicidality, and/or self-injurious behavior.
YSAM offers the following services:
- Intake assessments
- Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
- Dialectical-Behavioral Therapy Skills Groups
- Family Education, Treatment, & Support
- Referrals for specialized procedures and/or ongoing care
FAMILY STORIES
“I just want to say thank you again from my daughter and I for all your help. I am happy to share that my daughter is doing well overall. She has been accepted at University and has started working. While problems do occur at times, she is able to handle them much better. We will always be grateful for having been in your program. It is amazing how instrumental the program is for improving family relationships. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!”
Booking
For an appointment, please call us at (310)-794-4962.
Location
300 UCLA Medical Plaza, Suite 3300.
For more parking and transportation information, please visit www.semel.ucla.edu/maps
Site: 300 Medical Plaza at UCLA
Team
-
Joan Asarnow, PhD
Co-Director -
Jeanne Miranda, PhD
Co-Director -
Kalina Babeva, PhD
Affiliated Psychologist -
Sunhye Bai, PhD, MPH
Visiting Assistant Professor -
Benjamin Rolon-Arroyo, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow & Clinical Instructor -
Jocelyn Meza, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow & Clinical Instructor -
Lucas Zullo, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow & Clinical Instructor -
Chase Venables, BA
Clinical Research Coordinator
Affiliated Members
-
Jennifer L. Hughes, PhD
-
Jamie Bedics, PhD
Clinical Instructor, Psychologist -
Maggie Rea, PhD
Affiliated Psychologist, Trainer
Former Members
-
Stephanie Ernestus
Former Clinical Scientist -
Veronica Barbery
Former Research Clinician -
Jane Diamond
Therapist -
Nick Anderson, PhD
-
Olivia Fitzpatrick, BA
Former Clinical Research Coordinator
Education & Training
YSAM offers training both at UCLA and for community programs. Undergraduate students, graduate students, externs, interns, and post-doctoral scholars receive training through the YSAM Program.
YSAM also offers training for community sites. Our community training emphasizes training in 1) Depression Treatment Quality Improvement; and 2) Suicide & Suicide Attempt Prevention. See the National Registry for Evidence-Based Practice for more information.
WEBINARS:
Collaborative Care Models for Addressing Youth Depression in Primary CareSettings. (Presentation developed through SAMHSA for the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors. Co-Presenter Laura Richardson, MD, University of Washington, Seattle)
OTHER EDUCATIONAL & TRAINING INFORMATION:
What do changes in health and mental health care mean for clinicians, clinics, organizations, educators and other professionals? Information and video from “Health Care Forum” available at:
American Psychological Association, Speaking of Psychology Series:
http://www.apa.org/research/action/speaking-of-psychology/integrated-kids.aspx
CONTACT OLIVIA FITZPATRICK FOR MORE INFORMATION: ofitzpatrick@mednet.ucla.edu
Affiliated