title: Comparison of relaxation training with a cognitive-behavioural intervention for indicated prevention of depression in university students: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: Although cognitive-behavioural programmes for preventing depression have produced promising findings, their administration requires extensive training. Relaxation techniques are more straightforward psychological strategies, but they have not been investigated in the prevention of depression. This trial aimed to compare the results of relaxation training (RT) with that of a cognitive-behavioural programme (CBT) for prevention of depression in university students with elevated depressive symptoms. The 133 participants (mean age 23.3 years, 82% women) were randomly assigned to CBT or RT. Both programmes were administered to groups of 5 or 6 participants in eight weekly 90-min sessions. Participants were evaluated by independent raters before, immediately after, and 3 and 6 months after taking part in the programmes. By itself, intervention type had no significant effect on either depression or anxiety scores. The scores were lower at the follow-up time points with respect to pre-intervention scores. Effect size was greatest between pre- and immediately post-intervention scores for CBT, d = 1.32, 95% CI [1.00, 1.64], and between pre- and 6-month post-intervention scores for RT, d = 0.75, 95% CI [0.47, 1.03]. Anxiety symptoms were significantly improved by both interventions at 3-month follow-up, and by CBT at 6-month follow-up also. In the medium term (3-6 months), relaxation training produced similar reductions in depressive and anxiety symptoms as a more complex cognitive-behavioural programme.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, University of Santiago de Compostela, Campus Vida, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain. fernandolino.vazquez@usc.es
authors.forename: Fernando L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Vázquez
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Blanco
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Díaz
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Otero
authors.forename: Elisabet
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hermida
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012064:Relaxation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult