title: Cognitive-behavioral group depression prevention compared to bibliotherapy and brochure control: nonsignificant effects in pilot effectiveness trial with college students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Conduct a pilot trial testing whether a brief cognitive-behavioral (CB) group reduced depressive symptoms and secondary outcomes relative to bibliotherapy and brochure controls in college students with elevated depressive symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  82 college students (M age=19.0, SD=0.9; 70% female, 80% White) with elevated self-assessed depressive symptoms were randomized to a 6-session CB group, bibliotherapy, or educational brochure control condition, completing assessments at pretest, posttest, and at 6- and 12-month follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Planned contrasts found no significant effects for CB group on depressive symptoms compared to either bibliotherapy or brochure controls at posttest (d=-.08 and .06, respectively) or over follow-up (d=-.04 and -.10, respectively). There were no intervention effects for social adjustment and substance use, though CB group participants had improved knowledge of CB concepts at posttest, versus brochure controls. Condition differences in major depression onset were nonsignificant but suggested support for CB interventions (CB group=7.4%, bibliotherapy=4.5%, brochure control=15.2%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Unexpectedly modest support was found for a brief CB group depression prevention intervention, compared to bibliotherapy or brochure control, when provided to self-selected college students, suggesting that alternative screening or interventions approaches are needed for this population.
authors.affiliation: Oregon Research Institute, 1776 Millrace Drive, Eugene, OR 97403, USA. Electronic address: paulr@ori.org.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rohde
authors.affiliation: Oregon Research Institute, 1776 Millrace Drive, Eugene, OR 97403, USA.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stice
authors.affiliation: Oregon Research Institute, 1776 Millrace Drive, Eugene, OR 97403, USA.
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.affiliation: Oregon Research Institute, 1776 Millrace Drive, Eugene, OR 97403, USA.
authors.forename: Jeff M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gau
mesh_terms: D001638:Bibliotherapy; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003863:Depression / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy*; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010174:Pamphlets; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Bibliotherapy; Cognitive-behavioral; College students; Depression; Prevention