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Universal School-Based Depression Prevention 'Op Volle Kracht': a Longitudinal Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial
Yuli R Tak1, Anna Lichtwarck-Aschoff2, Jane E Gillham3,4
1Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9104, 6500, HE, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. y.tak@pwo.ru.nl.
Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology
|September 26, 2015
Summary
The school-based depression prevention program Op Volle Kracht (OVK) did not effectively reduce depressive symptoms in adolescents over a two-year period. This universal intervention showed no significant impact on preventing depression in the study population.
Area of Science:
- * Psychology
- * Public Health
- * Adolescent Mental Health
Background:
- * Adolescent depression is a significant public health concern requiring effective prevention strategies.
- * School-based programs offer a scalable approach to reach large adolescent populations.
- * The Op Volle Kracht (OVK) program, based on the Penn Resiliency Program (PRP), aimed to prevent depressive symptoms in adolescents.
Purpose of the Study:
- * To evaluate the longitudinal effectiveness of the universal, school-based depression prevention program Op Volle Kracht (OVK).
- * To determine if OVK could prevent depressive symptoms in adolescents over a two-year follow-up period.
- * To assess potential moderation effects by gender or baseline depressive symptom levels.
Main Methods:
- * A cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted involving 1341 adolescents across nine schools.
- * The intervention group received the OVK program, while the control group received standard school services.
- * Depressive symptoms were measured using the Child Depression Inventory (CDI) with follow-ups over two years.
Main Results:
- * Intent-to-treat analyses revealed no significant preventive effect of OVK on depressive symptoms at one-year follow-up (p=.829).
- * Latent Growth Curve Modeling indicated OVK did not predict differences in depressive symptoms immediately post-intervention or changes over time (p=.642 and p=.919, respectively).
- * No significant moderation effects were found for gender or baseline depressive symptom severity.
Conclusions:
- * The OVK program was not effective in preventing depressive symptoms among adolescents over a two-year follow-up.
- * These findings suggest that universal school-based depression prevention programs may require further refinement to achieve significant long-term effects.
- * Further research is needed to explore alternative or modified approaches for adolescent depression prevention.
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