Bridging The Gap in Adolescent Depression: An Action Plan Intervention.

Area of Science:

• Adolescent mental health
• Clinical psychology
• Public health interventions

Background:

• Depression is a prevalent condition in adolescents, necessitating routine screening.
• Current screening and management lack standardization, leading to a care gap.
• Long wait times for specialized care hinder timely intervention for adolescents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a take-home written action plan for adolescents with elevated depression screening scores.
• To assess the impact of the action plan on depression symptom severity.
• To gauge patient acceptance and likelihood of recommending the action plan.

Main Methods:

• Adolescents with elevated Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scores received a take-home written action plan.
• A post-intervention survey and PHQ-9 re-administration were conducted approximately 30 days later.
• Pre- and post-intervention PHQ-9 scores were statistically compared.

Main Results:

• A statistically significant decrease in PHQ-9 scores was observed (p = .008), with a median reduction of 4.5 points.
• 92% of participants reported being somewhat or very likely to recommend the action plan to a peer.
• The written action plan demonstrated positive effects as an initial management tactic.

Conclusions:

• Written action plans are an effective strategy for managing elevated depression screening scores in adolescents.
• This intervention can help bridge the existing care gap in adolescent mental healthcare.
• The action plan is a well-received tool by adolescents, indicating potential for widespread adoption.