title: Pilot trial of a dissonance-based cognitive-behavioral group depression prevention with college students.
abstract: Conduct a pilot trial testing whether a new cognitive-behavioral (CB) group prevention program that incorporated cognitive-dissonance change principles was feasible and appeared effective in reducing depressive symptoms and major depressive disorder onset relative to a brochure control condition in college students with elevated depressive symptoms.
  
  
  
  59 college students (M age = 21.8, SD = 2.3; 68% female, 70% White) were randomized to the 6-session Change Ahead group or educational brochure control condition, completing assessments at pretest, posttest, and 3-month follow-up.
  
  
  
  Recruitment and screening methods were effective and intervention attendance was high (86% attended all 6 sessions). Change Ahead participants showed medium-large reductions in depressive symptoms at posttest (M d = 0.64), though the effect attenuated by 3-month follow-up. Incidence of major depression onset at 3-month follow-up was 4% for Change Ahead participants versus 13% (difference ns).
  
  
  
  Change Ahead appears highly feasible and showed positive indications of reduced acute phase depressive symptoms and MDD onset relative to a minimal intervention control in this initial pilot. Given the brevity of the intervention, its apparent feasibility, and the lack of evidence-based depression prevention programs for college students, continued evaluation of Change Ahead appears warranted.
authors.affiliation: Oregon Research Institute, Eugene, USA. Electronic address: paulr@ori.org.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rohde
authors.affiliation: Oregon Research Institute, Eugene, USA.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stice
authors.affiliation: Oregon Research Institute, Eugene, USA.
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.affiliation: Oregon Research Institute, Eugene, USA.
authors.forename: Jeff M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gau
mesh_terms: D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003863:Depression / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief / Q000379:methods; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cognitive dissonance; Cognitive-behavioral; College students; Depression; Prevention