Lessons in Mind Control: Self-Regulation Training Improves Teen Mental Health

Background: Anxiety and depression are plaguing American teens. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the first-line treatment, though few adolescents receive apprpriate help. Creating Opportunities for Personal Empowerment (COPE) is an evidence-based CBT program that has been adapted for online self-directed use for teens and young adults. Objective: This pretest-posttest study assessed the effects of online COPE on teen mental health including anxiety, depression, and quality of life (QOL) in a primary care setting. Methods: Ten adolescents with anxiety symptoms completed seven weekly online COPE sessions which included brief trainings on emotional regulation and problem-solving techniques. The degree of anxiety, depression, and QOL was measured at baseline and after completion of the program. Pre- and posttest scores were evaluated using Friedman and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Results: Clinically significant improvements were observed in nearly all measured outcomes. Anxiety improved by 61.3% (p = .018), depression improved by 57.1% (p = .018), and QOL improved by 31.6% (p = .018). Conclusions: Favorable results suggest that online COPE is effective for the improvement of anxiety, depression, and quality of life in adolescents. Implications for Nursing: Online COPE is a low-cost, accessible treatment option that can increase the availability of mental health care for those with barriers to traditional mental health therapies.