Predictors and moderators of outcome of psychotherapeutic interventions for mental disorders in young people: Protocol for systematic reviews

Abstract Background: Adolescence and young adulthood is a risk period for the emergence of mental disorders. There is strong evidence that psychotherapeutic interventions are effective for most mental disorders. However, very little is known about for whom different psychotherapeutic treatment modalities are effective. This large systematic review aims to address this critical gap within the literature on non-specific predictors and moderators of the outcomes of psychotherapeutic interventions among young people with mental disorders. Methods: Pubmed and PsycINFO databases were searched for randomized controlled and quasi-experimental/naturalistic clinical trials. Studies were selected according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Risk of bias of all included studies will be assessed by RoB1 and ROBINS-I risk of bias tools. The quality of predictor and moderator variables will be also assessed. A narrative synthesis will be conducted for all included studies. Discussion: This systematic review will strengthen the evidence base on effective mental health interventions for young people, being the first to explore predictors and moderators of outcome of psychotherapeutic interventions for a wide range of mental disorders in young people. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO (CRD42020166756)