Preventing depression in high-risk college women: a report of an 18-month follow-up.
The authors tested the long-term effectiveness of a cognitive-behavioral group intervention in reducing depressive symptoms, decreasing negative thinking, and enhancing self-esteem in 92 college women aged 18 to 24 years who ere at risk for clinical depression. The women were randomly assigned to either an experimental or a no-treatment control group. The experimental group participated in a 6-week cognitive-behavioral intervention that targeted identification and reduction of negative thinking, using such techniques as thought stopping and affirmations. Data on depressive symptoms, self-esteem, and negative thinking were collected before the intervention and at intervals of 1, 6, and 18 months postintervention. The women in the intervention group experienced a greater decrease in depressive symptoms and negative thinking and a greater increase in self-esteem than those in the control group. The beneficial effects continued over an 18-month follow-up period. These findings support the importance of thought stopping and affirmations as prevention interventions with at-risk college women.
Peden
A R
AR
College of Nursing, University of Kentucky, Lexington, USA. arpede01@pop.uky.edu
Rayens
M K
MK
Hall
L A
LA
Beebe
L H
LH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007629:Kentucky / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012649:Self Concept; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors