title: A randomized controlled trial comparing two cognitive-behavioral programs for adolescent girls with subclinical depression: A school-based program (Op Volle Kracht) and a computerized program (SPARX).
abstract: Limited research has indicated the effectiveness of the school-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) prevention program 'Op Volle Kracht (OVK)' and the computerized CBT program 'SPARX' in decreasing depressive symptoms. Therefore, a randomized controlled trial of the effectiveness of OVK and SPARX was conducted among Dutch female adolescents (n = 208, mean age = 13.35) with elevated depressive symptoms. Participants were randomly assigned to one of four conditions: OVK only (n = 50), SPARX only (n = 51), OVK and SPARX combined (n = 56) and a monitoring control condition (n = 51). Participants in the first three conditions received OVK lessons and/or the SPARX game. Depressive symptoms were assessed before interventions started, weekly during the interventions, and immediately after the interventions ended, with follow-up assessments at 3, 6 and 12 months. Intention to treat results showed that depressive symptoms decreased in all conditions (F(12, 1853.03) = 14.62, p < .001), with no difference in depressive symptoms between conditions. Thus, all conditions, including the monitoring control condition, were equally effective in reducing depressive symptoms. Possible explanations for the decrease of depressive symptoms in all conditions are discussed and suggestions for future research are provided. Dutch Trial Register: NTR3737.
authors.affiliation: Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9104, 6500 HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: m.poppelaars@pwo.ru.nl.
authors.forename: Marlou
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Poppelaars
authors.affiliation: Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9104, 6500 HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: y.tak@pwo.ru.nl.
authors.forename: Yuli R
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Tak
authors.affiliation: Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9104, 6500 HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: a.lichtwarck-aschoff@pwo.ru.nl.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lichtwarck-Aschoff
authors.affiliation: Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9104, 6500 HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Trimbos-Institute, P.O. Box 725, 3500 AS Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: r.engels@pwo.ru.nl.
authors.forename: Rutger C M E
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Engels
authors.affiliation: Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9104, 6500 HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: a.lobel@pwo.ru.nl.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lobel
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand. Electronic address: s.merry@auckland.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Sally N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Merry
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand; Department of Health and Social Care, Faculty of Health and Social Care, The Open University, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, United Kingdom. Electronic address: m.lucassen@auckland.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Mathijs F G
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Lucassen
authors.affiliation: Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9104, 6500 HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: i.granic@pwo.ru.nl.
authors.forename: Isabela
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Granic
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009426:Netherlands; D012572:School Health Services; D012574:Schools; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Adolescence; Cognitive-behavioral; Depression; Prevention; Randomized controlled trial; Video game