Technology-Enabled Prevention Service for At-Risk Youth

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), K01MH121854

7/1/20 – 6/30/25

Ashley Knapp, PhD (Northwestern University)

Mentorship Team:

Primary Mentors: David Mohr, PhD (Northwestern University); C Hendricks Brown, PhD (Northwestern University); Niranjan Karnick, PhD (Rush University);

Mentors: Madhu Reddy, PhD (Northwestern University); Nicholas Allen, PhD (University of Oregon);

Advisor: Mary Kwasny, PhD (Northwestern University).

Community Partners:

Oak Park Public Library, Teen Services;

Robert Simmons (Director of Social Services and Public Safety);

Stephen Jackson (Manager of Teen Services);

Darcel Washington (Teen Services Specialist)

Anxiety disorders are the most common class of psychopathology among youth, with nearly a quarter of adolescents meeting 12-month diagnostic criteria. There is evidence that anxiety prevention programs can be effective for youth however, they are not widely available or accessible, particularly among underserved populations where need is greatest. Novel approaches to increase engagement in and access to interventions that prevent the development and impact of anxiety disorders among are needed. To address these gaps in the literature, the goals specific to this grant are to use user-centered design methods to engage at-risk adolescents, providers, and community partnerships into the iterative design of a technology-enabled prevention service for anxiety (TEPS-A). We will then conduct a randomized pilot trial on the adapted TEPS-A prototype. Importantly, the proposed study is designed to complement the training program by helping me to refine relevant research skills while designing and evaluating a TEPS-A among at-risk youth. My goal is to harness digital tools to extend reach of preventive interventions to underserved youth in community settings, and sustainably deploy and evaluate digital tools for adolescents designed to reduce the incidence of anxiety and related disorders. A comprehensive training plan was therefore constructed to systematically advance my: 1) expertise in user-centered design methods, 2) aptitude in community-engaged research with underserved populations, 3) methodological skills related to designing and deploying preventive interventions, and 4) proficiency in qualitative and longitudinal data analytics. Accomplishment of the training goals and proposed research project will provide the skills and tools necessary for development of an R01 proposal aimed at testing the efficacy of the TEPS-A among youth within community settings. Consistent with the goals of the K01 Award, the research opportunities as well as mentorship on conducting digital mental health research with youth populations from underserved communities will help me become a successful independent research scientist in the field of digital mental health.

Anxiety disorders are the most common class of psychopathology among youth, with nearly a quarter of adolescents meeting 12-month diagnostic criteria. The primary aim of this project is to use user-centered design methods to engage at-risk adolescents, providers, and community partnerships into the design and evaluation of a technology-enabled prevention service for anxiety. Accomplishment of the training goals and proposed research project will provide the skills and tools necessary for development of an R01 proposal aimed at testing the efficacy of the technology-enabled prevention service for anxiety among youth within community settings.
Project Terms: