title: Prevention of recurrence of major depression among emerging adults by a group cognitive-behavioral/interpersonal intervention.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Among the most serious sequelae to an initial episode of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) during adolescence is the significant increase in the probability of recurrence. This study reports on an integrated CBT/IPT program, provided in a group format, that was developed to decrease the rate of MDD recurrence in emerging adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were 89 young adults who were not depressed at study entry but had experienced MDD during adolescence. Participants were assigned to a CBT/IPT prevention program or to an assessment only control condition and were followed through the first 2 years of college.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Risk for MDD recurrence was reduced more than 50% for the prevention program participants compared to assessment only controls. The intervention also conferred beneficial effects on academic performance for those students who completed the majority of the group sessions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study included a self-selected sample of emerging adults who were aware of their history of depression. Due to the small sample size, it will be important to evaluate similar interventions in adequately-powered trials to determine if this is a replicable finding.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With 51% of the assessment only participants experiencing a MDD recurrence during the first 2 years of college, these findings support the need for programs designed to prevent MDD recurrence in young adults. The current program, based on IPT and CBT principles, appears to reduce the rate of MDD recurrence among previously depressed emerging adults.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Colby College, Waterville, ME 04901, USA. essheets@colby.edu
authors.forename: Erin S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Sheets
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wilcoxon Craighead
authors.forename: Alisha L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Brosse
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hauser
authors.forename: Joshua W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Madsen
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Edward Craighead
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D014495:Universities