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Brief cognitive-behavioral depression prevention program for high-risk adolescents outperforms two alternative
Eric Stice1, Paul Rohde, John R Seeley
1Oregon Research Institute, 1715 Franklin Boulevard, Eugene, OR 97403, USA. estice@ori.org
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology
|July 31, 2008
Summary
This depression prevention trial found that a brief group cognitive-behavioral (CB) intervention significantly reduced depressive symptoms and improved social adjustment in high-risk adolescents. The CB intervention also lowered the risk for major depression onset over six months.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Adolescent Mental Health
Background:
- Adolescence is a critical period for the onset of depressive disorders.
- Preventive interventions are needed for high-risk adolescents with elevated depressive symptoms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of a brief group cognitive-behavioral (CB) intervention compared to supportive-expressive intervention, bibliotherapy, and an assessment-only control for depression prevention in adolescents.
- To assess the impact of interventions on depressive symptoms, social adjustment, and substance use.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 341 high-risk adolescents (mean age 15.6 years) with elevated depressive symptoms.
- Participants were assigned to either a brief group CB intervention, supportive-expressive intervention, bibliotherapy, or an assessment-only control group.
- Outcomes including depressive symptoms, social adjustment, substance use, and major depression onset were assessed at posttest and 6-month follow-up.
Main Results:
- Cognitive-behavioral (CB) intervention participants showed significantly greater reductions in depressive symptoms compared to other groups at posttest.
- CB intervention led to significant improvements in social adjustment and reductions in substance use at posttest and 6-month follow-up.
- All three active interventions (CB, supportive-expressive, bibliotherapy) demonstrated a significantly lower risk for major depression onset over the 6-month follow-up compared to the assessment-only control.
Conclusions:
- A brief group cognitive-behavioral (CB) intervention shows clinical utility for preventing depression in high-risk adolescents.
- The CB intervention demonstrated superior effectiveness in improving social adjustment and reducing substance use compared to alternative interventions.
- Preventive interventions, particularly CB, can effectively reduce the risk of major depression onset in vulnerable adolescent populations.
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