title: Computerised CBT for depressed adolescents: Randomised controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Depression in adolescents is a common and impairing problem. Effective psychological therapies for depression are not accessed by most adolescents. Computerised therapy offers huge potential for improving access to treatment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To test the efficacy of Stressbusters, a Computerised-CBT (C-CBT) programme for depression in young people.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multi-site, schools-based, RCT of C-CBT compared to Waiting List, for young people (N = 112; aged 12-16) with significant symptoms of depression, using multiple-informants (adolescents, parents, teachers), with follow-up at 3 and 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Relative to being on a Waiting List, C-CBT was associated with statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in symptoms of depression and anxiety according to adolescent self-report; and with a trend towards improvements in depression and anxiety according to parent-report. Improvements were maintained at follow-up. Treatment gains were similar for boys and girls across the participating age range. Treatment effect was partially mediated by changes in ruminative thinking. Teachers rated adolescents as having few emotional or behavioural problems, both before and after intervention. C-CBT had no detectable effect on academic attainment. In the month after intervention, young people who received C-CBT had significantly fewer absences from school than those on the Waiting List.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  C-CBT shows considerable promise for the treatment of mild-moderate depression in adolescents.
authors: Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK; Mood Disorder Clinic for Children and Young People, Michael Rutter Centre, Maudsley Hospital, South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London SE5 8AZ, UK. Electronic address: patrick.smith@kcl.ac.uk.
authors: Patrick
authors: P
authors: Smith
authors: Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK.
authors: Rebecca
authors: R
authors: Scott
authors: Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK.
authors: Ertimiss
authors: E
authors: Eshkevari
authors: Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK.
authors: Fatoumata
authors: F
authors: Jatta
authors: Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK; Mood Disorder Clinic for Children and Young People, Michael Rutter Centre, Maudsley Hospital, South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London SE5 8AZ, UK.
authors: Eleanor
authors: E
authors: Leigh
authors: Department of Biostatistics, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK.
authors: Victoria
authors: V
authors: Harris
authors: Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK.
authors: Alex
authors: A
authors: Robinson
authors: Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Harrington Building, Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Oxford Road, M13 9WL, UK.
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Abeles
authors: Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Hospital Road, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia.
authors: Judy
authors: J
authors: Proudfoot
authors: Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Harrington Building, Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Oxford Road, M13 9WL, UK.
authors: Chrissie
authors: C
authors: Verduyn
authors: Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK.
authors: William
authors: W
authors: Yule
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012574:Schools; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Adolescents; Computerised-CBT; Depression; RCT