title: Effectiveness of an online group course for adolescents and young adults with depressive symptoms: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Depression is a common condition whose first onset is usually in late adolescence or early adulthood. Internet-based interventions are an effective treatment approach to depression. The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of a Dutch online cognitive-behavioural group course known as Master Your Mood (Grip op Je Dip) for young people reporting depressive symptoms. Secondary research questions involve maintenance of effect at 6 months, mediators, and predictors of better outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  We will conduct a randomised controlled trial (RCT) in which 244 young people aged 16-25 are randomly allocated to the Grip op Je Dip (GOJD) online group course or to a waiting list control group. The participants will be recruited from the general population. The primary outcome measure will be the severity of depressive symptoms according to the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Other outcomes will include anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety, HADS) and mastery (Mastery Scale). Assessments will take place in both groups at baseline and three months later. Effect maintenance will be studied in the GOJD group six months after baseline, with missing data imputed using the expectation-maximisation method. Mediators and predictors of better outcomes will also be identified.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The trial should add to the body of knowledge on the effectiveness of Internet-based interventions for depression. To our knowledge, this will be the first RCT on an online group intervention in this field.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  NTR1694.
authors.affiliation: Trimbos Institute, Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction, Da Costakade 45, Postbox 725, 3500 AS, Utrecht, The Netherlands. rzanden@trimbos.nl
authors.forename: Rianne A P
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: van der Zanden
authors.forename: Jeannet Jam
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Kramer
authors.forename: Pim
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cuijpers
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D009426:Netherlands; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D012107:Research Design; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult