Mental HealthNCT07761143
Impact of Device Free Summer Camp on Adolescent Mental Health and Wellbeing
A study testing Attendance of device-free summer camp in people with Mental Health, run by Sapien Labs at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to understand if attendance of a device-free summer camp, representing a shift from a digital environment to one that is device free and involves in person social interaction, can change mental health status and brain physiology in teens age 12-17. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 12 to 17 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Mental Health
- What is being tested?
- Attendance of device-free summer camp
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 333 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 1 Jul 2024to 17 Aug 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 12 to 17 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child
Who may be able to join
- Attendance of Maine Teen Camp sessions during summer months of 2024 and 2025.
Who cannot join
- None
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: IMPACT OF DEVICE FREE SUMMER CAMP ON ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING
The goal of this clinical trial is to understand if attendance of a device-free summer camp, representing a shift from a digital environment to one that is device free and involves in person social interaction, can change mental health status and brain physiology in teens age 12-17. The main question it aims to answer is:
- How much is aggregate mental health and its various dimensions and components changed at the end of the camp attendance relative to the start of camp.
- How much is brain physiology, as measured by EEG change, changed at the end of camp relative to the start of camp.
Participants are recruited from among teens signed up to attend 2 or 3.5 week sessions a summer camp in Maine.
Read the detailed description
The goal of this clinical trial is to understand if attendance of a device-free summer camp, representing a shift from a digital environment to one that is device free and involves in person social interaction, can change mental health status and brain physiology in teens age 12-17. The main question it aims to answer is:
- How much is aggregate mental health and its various dimensions and components changed at the end of the camp attendance relative to the start of camp.
- How much is brain physiology, as measured by EEG change, changed at the end of camp relative to the start of camp.
Participants are recruited from among teens signed up to attend 2 or 3.5 week sessions a summer camp in Maine. Participants were asked to complete the MHQ, a comprehensive mental health assessment spanning 47 emotional, social and cognitive aspects and on the first day of camp and then again on the day before departure. In addition participants were asked questions on their school and camp experiences at the start and end of camp respectively.
Participants were also invited to participate in a socio-emotional task and/or have EEG measurements read on the first day of camp and the day before departure form camp. The socio-emotional task involved speaking or performing in front of a group of 4 or 5 people and rating one's own feelings performing this task as well as rating the perceived feelings of other group members when they were performing the task.
- Conditions
- Mental Health
- Being tested
- Attendance of device-free summer camp
- Keywords
- MHQ, Mental Health Assessment, Device-free summer camp, Mental Wellbeing, Wellbeing, Summer Camp, Smartphones
- Medical subject headings
- Psychological Well-Being
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Attendance of device-free summer campOther
Attendance of a residential device-free summer camp in Maine for 2-3.5 weeks.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Maine Teen Camp attendees | Experimental | Attendance of a residential device-free summer camp for teens for 2 to 3.5 weeks characterized by in-person interaction and nature rich outdoor activities. Receives: Other: Attendance of device-free summer camp |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change from Baseline in Mental Health Quotient (MHQ) at End of Camp
The Mental Health Quotient or MHQ is an aggregate score of mental health computed from the 47 items of the MHQ assessment. The score ranges from -100 to +200, where higher scores indicate better mental health outcomes. Negative scores indicate significant symptoms that impact function (Distressed/Struggling range), while positive scores reflect the wide range of normal function (Enduring to Thriving). Change is calculated by subtracting the baseline score from the end of camp score.
Measured: Baseline (Day 1) to end of camp attendance (up to 3.5 weeks).
Secondary outcomes (2)
Change from Baseline in Ratings of 47 MHQ Items After Camp Attendance
Difference in the ratings of each of the 47 items in the MHQ assessment spanning emotional, social, cognitive and physical capacities and problems. Participants rate each item on a 9-point life impact scale.
Measured: Baseline (Day 1) to end of camp attendance (up to 3.5 weeks).
Change from Baseline in Resting-State Electroencephalography (EEG) measures
The outcome measure evaluates changes in EEG spectral metrics such as spectral slope, spectral bands and time domain metrics such as complexity/entropy measures such as Detrending Fluctuation Analysis (DFA), Lempel-Ziv Complexity and Sample Entropy measured during 3 minutes of EEG with eyes closed at the start and end of the camp session.
Measured: Baseline (Day 1 of camp) and Post-Intervention (Final day of camp - 2.5-3 weeks later)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted12 Aug 2026
- Study start1 Jul 2024
- Primary completion17 Aug 2025
- Study completion17 Aug 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Mental HealthStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Model description
- Pre- post- study of a natural intervention (summer camp)
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 333 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Sapien Labs
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- University of California, San Diego, Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Tara Thiagarajan, PhD, Principal investigator, Sapien Labs
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07761143
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- MTC_24_25
- Status last verified
- Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 6 Aug 2026
- Last updated
- 21 Aug 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: Anonymized assessment and questionnaire responses and raw EEG files
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 21 Aug 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- IMPACT OF DEVICE FREE SUMMER CAMP ON ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07761143
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- MTC_24_25
- Conditions
- Mental Health
- Keywords
- MHQ, Mental Health Assessment, Device-free summer camp, Mental Wellbeing, Wellbeing, Summer Camp, Smartphones
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 333 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Sapien LabsUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- University of California, San Diego, Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego
- Study start
- 1 Jul 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 17 Aug 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 17 Aug 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 12 Aug 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The goal of this clinical trial is to understand if attendance of a device-free summer camp, representing a shift from a digital environment to one that is device free and involves in person social interaction, can change mental health status and brain physiology in teens age 12-17. The main question it aims to answer is:
- How much is aggregate mental health and its various dimensions and components changed at the end of the camp attendance relative to the start of camp.
- How much is brain physiology, as measured by EEG change, changed at the end of camp relative to the start of camp.
Participants are recruited from among teens signed up to attend 2 or 3.5 week sessions a summer camp in Maine.
Detailed description
The goal of this clinical trial is to understand if attendance of a device-free summer camp, representing a shift from a digital environment to one that is device free and involves in person social interaction, can change mental health status and brain physiology in teens age 12-17. The main question it aims to answer is:
- How much is aggregate mental health and its various dimensions and components changed at the end of the camp attendance relative to the start of camp.
- How much is brain physiology, as measured by EEG change, changed at the end of camp relative to the start of camp.
Participants are recruited from among teens signed up to attend 2 or 3.5 week sessions a summer camp in Maine. Participants were asked to complete the MHQ, a comprehensive mental health assessment spanning 47 emotional, social and cognitive aspects and on the first day of camp and then again on the day before departure. In addition participants were asked questions on their school and camp experiences at the start and end of camp respectively.
Participants were also invited to participate in a socio-emotional task and/or have EEG measurements read on the first day of camp and the day before departure form camp. The socio-emotional task involved speaking or performing in front of a group of 4 or 5 people and rating one's own feelings performing this task as well as rating the perceived feelings of other group members when they were performing the task.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
- Model description
- Pre- post- study of a natural intervention (summer camp)
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Maine Teen Camp attendees | Experimental | Other: Attendance of device-free summer campAttendance of a residential device-free summer camp for teens for 2 to 3.5 weeks characterized by in-person interaction and nature rich outdoor activities. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 12 to 17 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Attendance of Maine Teen Camp sessions during summer months of 2024 and 2025.
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- None
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Attendance of device-free summer campAttendance of a residential device-free summer camp in Maine for 2-3.5 weeks. | Other | Maine Teen Camp attendees |
Primary outcome
Change from Baseline in Mental Health Quotient (MHQ) at End of Camp
Time frame: Baseline (Day 1) to end of camp attendance (up to 3.5 weeks).
The Mental Health Quotient or MHQ is an aggregate score of mental health computed from the 47 items of the MHQ assessment. The score ranges from -100 to +200, where higher scores indicate better mental health outcomes. Negative scores indicate significant symptoms that impact function (Distressed/Struggling range), while positive scores reflect the wide range of normal function (Enduring to Thriving). Change is calculated by subtracting the baseline score from the end of camp score.
2 secondary outcomes
Change from Baseline in Ratings of 47 MHQ Items After Camp Attendance
Time frame: Baseline (Day 1) to end of camp attendance (up to 3.5 weeks).
Change from Baseline in Resting-State Electroencephalography (EEG) measures
Time frame: Baseline (Day 1 of camp) and Post-Intervention (Final day of camp - 2.5-3 weeks later)
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 21 Aug 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. Anonymized assessment and questionnaire responses and raw EEG files
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Tara Thiagarajan, PhD principal investigator
Sapien Labs
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Attendance of device-free summer camp in people with Mental Health, run by Sapien Labs at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 21 Aug 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change from Baseline in Mental Health Quotient (MHQ) at End of Camp (time frame: Baseline (Day 1) to end of camp attendance (up to 3.5 weeks).). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 21 Aug 2026.