Evaluation of universal, indicated, and combined cognitive-behavioral approaches to the prevention of depression among adolescents.
A cluster, stratified randomized design was used to evaluate the impact of universal, indicated, and combined universal plus indicated cognitive- behavioral approaches to the prevention of depression among 13- to 15-year-olds initially reporting elevated symptoms of depression. None of the intervention approaches differed significantly from a no-intervention condition or from each other on changes in depressive symptoms, anxiety, externalizing problems, coping skills, and social adjustment. All high-symptom students, irrespective of condition, showed a significant decline in depressive symptoms and improvement in emotional well-being over time although they still demonstrated elevated levels of psychopathology compared with the general population of peers at 12-month follow-up. There were also no significant intervention effects for the universal intervention in comparison with no intervention for the total sample of students in those conditions.
Sheffield
Jeanie K
JK
School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, and Royal North Shore Hospital, St. Leonards, New South Wales, Australia. jeanie@psy.uq.edu.au
Spence
Susan H
SH
Rapee
Ronald M
RM
Kowalenko
Nick
N
Wignall
Ann
A
Davis
Anna
A
McLoone
Jordana
J
D000293:Adolescent; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief; D011793:Queensland; D012307:Risk Factors; D012572:School Health Services