Disorders - Depressive Disorders
Walker, J. V., Lampropoulos, G. K.
Homework assignments are an integral part of traditional cognitive- behavioral therapy (CBT) for depression, where the focus of therapy and interventions is to reduce negative mental health symptomatology. However, little attention has been paid to the extent that CBT homework assignments can improve positive emotionality. Positive psychology interventions, on the other hand, have demonstrated effectiveness in reducing depression and bolstering positive states, which may make them valuable additions to CBT for depression when incorporated specifically as homework assignments. The current study compared the effectiveness of self-help homework assignments from both of these theories. College students with mild depressive symptoms in a nonpsychotherapy setting were randomly assigned to complete either cognitive- behavioral homework assignments (with or without an interpersonal component) or positive psychology homework assignments (with an inherent interpersonal element) over a 2-week period. Results indicated that participants from all 3 experimental conditions experienced a significant decrease in depressive symptoms and general distress scores relative to a control group over the course of 2 weeks, but only participants in the positive psychology homework condition experienced a concurrent increase in both positive affect and behavioral activation. The integration of positive psychology interventions as homework assignments in psychotherapy is discussed. (copyright) 2014 American Psychological Association.
Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, 24(1) : 46-64
- Year: 2014
- Problem: Depressive Disorders
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Cognitive & behavioural therapies (CBT)
, Positive psychology, Self-help
Stevanovic, D., Tadic, I., Knez, R.
There is some evidence indicating that psychotropic medications might lead to health-related quality of life (QOL) improvements among children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders. The aim of this systematic review is to assess evidence regarding whether antidepressant treatment improves QOL among children and adolescents with depressive or anxiety disorders. A comprehensive search resulted in 5 clinical trials to be included in this review: 4 trials with major depressive disorder (MDD) and 1 trial with social anxiety disorder (SAD). In one MDD trial, fluoxetine combined with cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) significantly improved QOL compared to fluoxetine or CBT alone (effect sizes were 0.53 and 0.69, respectively). In 2 combined trials, sertraline alone significantly improved QOL among adolescents with MDD (effect size was 0.29), but not among children with MDD. Essentially, it was observed that antidepressants in these trials had minor positive effects on QOL improvement, which were lower than their potential to improve depressive symptoms. Although fluoxetine with CBT or sertraline monotherapy were shown to have some potential to improve QOL, this systematic review found inconclusive evidence that antidepressant treatments improve QOL among children and adolescents with depressive or anxiety disorders. More research is required, considering that QOL is currently under-evaluated in clinical trials with antidepressants among children and adolescents and available trials have limited methodological quality when reporting QOL data.
CNS Spectrums, 19(2) : 134-141
- Year: 2014
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Social phobia (social anxiety disorder)
, Depressive Disorders
- Type: Systematic reviews
-
Stage: Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Biological Interventions (any)
, Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
Wong, N, Kady, L, Mewton, L, Sunderland, M, Andrews, G
The aims of the current study were to 1) establish the efficacy of two Internet-based prevention programmes to reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms in adolescents; and 2) investigate the distribution of psychological symptoms in a large sample of Australian adolescents prior to the implementation of the intervention. A cluster randomised controlled trial was conducted with 976 Year 9-10 students from twelve Australian secondary schools in 2009. Four schools were randomly allocated to the Anxiety Internet-based prevention programme (n = 372), five schools to the Depression Internet-based prevention programme (n = 380) and three to their usual health classes (n = 224). The Thiswayup Schools for Anxiety and Depression prevention courses were presented over the Internet and consist of 6-7 evidence-based, curriculum consistent lessons to improve the ability to manage anxiety and depressive symptoms. Participants were assessed at baseline and post-intervention. Data analysis was constrained by both study attrition and data corruption. Thus post-intervention data were only available for 265/976 students. Compared to the control group, students in the depression intervention group showed a significant improvement in anxiety and depressive symptoms at the end of the course, whilst students in the anxiety intervention demonstrated a reduction in symptoms of anxiety. No significant differences were found in psychological distress. The Thiswayup Schools Depression and Anxiety interventions appear to reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms in adolescents using a curriculum based, blended online and offline cognitive behavioural therapy programme that was implemented by classroom teachers. Given the study limitations, particularly the loss of post-intervention data, these findings can only be considered preliminary and need to be replicated in future research. (copyright) 2014.
Internet Interventions, 1(2) : 90-94
- Year: 2014
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Depressive Disorders
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Universal prevention
-
Treatment and intervention: Service Delivery & Improvement, Psychological Interventions (any)
, Cognitive & behavioural therapies (CBT)
, Technology, interventions delivered using technology (e.g. online, SMS)
Ye, X., Bapuji, S. B., Winters, S. E., Struthers, A., Raynard, M., Metge, C., Kreindler, S. A., Charette, C. J., Lemaire, J. A., Synyshyn, M., Sutherland, K.
METHODS: We searched five literature databases (PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsychInfo, and Google Scholar) for studies published between January 1990 and December 2012. We included studies evaluating the effectiveness of internet-based interventions for children, youth, and young adults (age <25 years) with anxiety and/or depression and their parents. Two reviewers independently assessed the risk of bias regarding selection bias, allocation bias, confounding bias, blinding, data collection, and withdrawals/dropouts. We included studies rated as high or moderate quality according to the risk of bias assessment. We conducted meta-analyses using the random effects model. We calculated standardized mean difference and its 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for anxiety and depression symptom severity scores by comparing internet-based intervention vs. waitlist control and internet-based intervention vs. face-to-face intervention. We also calculated pooled remission rate ratio and 95% CI.
RESULTS: We included seven studies involving 569 participants aged between 7 and 25 years. Meta-analysis suggested that, compared to waitlist control, internet-based interventions were able to reduce anxiety symptom severity (standardized mean difference and 95% CI = -0.52 [-0.90, -0.14]) and increase remission rate (pooled remission rate ratio and 95% CI =3.63 [1.59, 8.27]). The effect in reducing depression symptom severity was not statistically significant (standardized mean difference and 95% CI = -0.16 [-0.44, 0.12]). We found no statistical difference in anxiety or depression symptoms between internet-based intervention and face-to-face intervention (or usual care).
CONCLUSIONS: The present analysis indicated that internet-based interventions were effective in reducing anxiety symptoms and increasing remission rate, but not effective in reducing depression symptom severity. Due to the small number of higher quality studies, more attention to this area of research is encouraged.
TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO registration: CRD42012002100.
BACKGROUND: The majority of internet-based anxiety and depression intervention studies have targeted adults. An increasing number of studies of children, youth, and young adults have been conducted, but the evidence on effectiveness has not been synthesized. The objective of this research is to systematically review the most recent findings in this area and calculate overall (pooled) effect estimates of internet-based anxiety and/or depression interventions.
BMC health services research, 14 : 313
- Year: 2014
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Depressive Disorders
- Type: Systematic reviews
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
, Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Service Delivery & Improvement, Psychological Interventions (any)
, Technology, interventions delivered using technology (e.g. online, SMS)
vanZoonen, K., Buntrock, C., Ebert, D. D., Smit, F., Reynolds, C. F., 3rd, Beekman, A. T. F., Cuijpers, P.
Background: Depressive disorders are highly prevalent, have a detrimental impact on the quality of life of patients and their relatives and are associated with increased mortality rates, high levels of service use and substantial economic costs. Current treatments are estimated to only reduce about one-third of the disease burden of depressive disorders. Prevention may be an alternative strategy to further reduce the disease burden of depression.; Methods: We conducted a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials examining the effects of preventive interventions in participants with no diagnosed depression at baseline on the incidence of diagnosed depressive disorders at follow-up. We identified 32 studies that met our inclusion criteria.; Results: We found that the relative risk of developing a depressive disorder was incidence rate ratio = 0.79 (95% confidence interval: 0.69-0.91), indicating a 21% decrease in incidence in prevention groups in comparison with control groups. Heterogeneity was low (I(2) = 24%). The number needed to treat (NNT) to prevent one new case of depressive disorder was 20. Sensitivity analyses revealed no differences between type of prevention (e.g. selective, indicated or universal) nor between type of intervention (e.g. cognitive behavioural therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy or other). However, data on NNT did show differences.; Conclusions: Prevention of depression seems feasible and may, in addition to treatment, be an effective way to delay or prevent the onset of depressive disorders. Preventing or delaying these disorders may contribute to the further reduction of the disease burden and the economic costs associated with depressive disorders.;
International Journal of Epidemiology, 43(2) : 318-329
- Year: 2014
- Problem: Depressive Disorders
- Type: Systematic reviews
-
Stage: Universal prevention
, At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Cognitive & behavioural therapies (CBT)
, Interpersonal therapy (IPT)
, Other Psychological Interventions
Rohde, P., Stice, E., Shaw, H., Gau, J. M.
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. Method: 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. (copyright) 2014 Elsevier Ltd.
Behaviour Research & Therapy, 55(1) : 48-53
- Year: 2014
- Problem: Depressive Disorders
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Cognitive & behavioural therapies (CBT)
, Self-help
Rohde, P., Stice, E., Shaw, H., Briere, F. N.
Objective: We tested whether a brief cognitive behavioral (CB) group and bibliotherapy prevention reduce major depressive disorder (MDD) onset, depressive symptoms, and secondary outcomes relative to brochure controls in adolescents with self-reported depressive symptoms when school personnel recruit participants and deliver the intervention. Method: Three hundred seventy-eight adolescents (M age = 15.5 years, SD = 1.2; 68% female, 72% White) with elevated self-assessed depressive symptoms were randomized to a 6-session CB group, minimal contact CB bibliotherapy, or educational brochure control. Participants were assessed at pretest, posttest, and 6-month follow-up. Results: CB group participants showed a significantly lower risk for major depressive disorder onset (0.8%), compared to both CB bibliotherapy (6.3%) and brochure control (6.5%; hazard ratio = 8.1 and 8.3, respectively). Planned contrasts indicated that CB group resulted in lower depressive symptom severity than brochure control at posttest (p = .03, d = 0.29) but not 6-month follow-up; differences between CB group and bibliotherapy were nonsignificant at posttest and 6-month follow-up. Condition effects were nonsignificant for social adjustment and substance use. Conclusions: The finding that a brief CB group intervention delivered by real-world providers significantly reduced MDD onset relative to both brochure control and bibliotherapy is very encouraging, although effects on continuous outcome measures were small or nonsignificant and approximately half the magnitude of those found in efficacy research, potentially because the present sample reported lower initial depression.
Journal of Consulting & Clinical Psychology, (1) : 65
- Year: 2014
- Problem: Depressive Disorders
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Cognitive & behavioural therapies (CBT)
, Self-help
Zandvakili, M., Jalilvand, M., Nikmanesh, Z.
Background: The positive psychology always seeks to recognize and describe the pleasure and subjective well-being. The main issue of this field is to improve the well-being and recognize the positive aspects in order to reinforce them to prevent and develop the mental health. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of positive thinking training workshop on reduction of depression, stress and anxiety of juveniles at Correction and Rehabilitation Centers. Methods: The quasi-experimental method was used in this study and the depression, anxiety and stress scale (DASS-21) was used. Forty one subjects participated in this research and were divided into two homogeneous groups based on their pretest scores and were randomly included in the experimental and control groups. The positive thinking training workshop was performed for 10 sessions within three weeks on experimental group and after that the posttest and after one month the follow up test were performed. Results: The results have shown that the positive thinking training courses have effects on reduction of depression and anxiety. But it had not effects on stress in the follow up study. Conclusion: Thus, this training can be used for reduction of depression and anxiety of juvenile at Correction and Rehabilitation Center. (copyright) 2014 Forensic Medicine and Toxicology Department.
International Journal of Medical Toxicology & Forensic Medicine, 4(2) : 55-62
- Year: 2014
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Depressive Disorders
- Type: Controlled clinical trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Positive psychology
Singhal, M., Manjula, M., Vijay-Sagar, K. J.
A majority of adolescents in India, who are at risk for depression, do not receive treatment or receive it when the psychopathology has become entrenched and chronic. The present pilot study was an endeavor to assess the felt needs of adolescents vis-a-vis the difficulties and stressors experienced by them. For this purpose, 300 students across three schools were screened using standardized measures. Another objective of the study was to develop and test a school-based Coping Skills Program to address adolescents at-risk for depression. Schools were sequentially assigned to intervention or control conditions; students of index (n= 13) and control (n= 6) groups were assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and 3 months follow-up. At post-intervention for the index group, all outcomes measures except coping skills-including depressive symptoms, negative cognitions, academic stress, and social problem-solving-showed change in the expected direction, this difference assuming significance at follow-up. The program was rated positively by students using anonymous feedback and there was low to nil perceived stigmatization. Results are discussed in the context of need for such intervention programs in India, and future scope of research involving larger samples. (copyright) 2014 Elsevier B.V.
Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 10 : 56-61
- Year: 2014
- Problem: Depressive Disorders
- Type: Controlled clinical trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Other Psychological Interventions
Rose, K., Hawes, D. J., Hunt, C. J.
Objective: The Resourceful Adolescent Program (RAP) is a universal, school-based intervention that has been found to produce small to medium effects in the reduction of adolescent depressive symptoms. In the present study, we evaluated the effectiveness of a friendship-building skills program - the Peer Interpersonal Relatedness (PIR) program - in producing larger effects when used in conjunction with RAP. Method: A cluster-randomized controlled trial was used to assign whole classrooms of adolescent participants recruited from Sydney secondary schools to 1 of 3 conditions: (a) RAP-PIR, (b) RAP-placebo, or (c) assessment-only waiting-list control. Hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) was used to analyze the data. Results: Across the intervention period, RAP did not significantly reduce depressive symptoms relative to those students not receiving this intervention. RAP followed by PIR did significantly reduce depressive symptoms relative to those students not receiving PIR. Across the 12-month follow-up, the between-group reductions in depressive symptoms were no longer significant. At follow-up, participants in the RAP-PIR condition had achieved significant increases in their school-related life satisfaction and significant increases in social functioning with peers relative to their peers in the other conditions. Conclusion: The study provides preliminary support for the effectiveness of the PIR program in reducing depressive symptoms when used alongside RAP in the short term and in improving social adjustment and school-related life satisfaction in the longer term. Given the importance of social adjustment in adolescent mental well-being, the PIR program represents a potentially important addition to the prevention of depression in youth. (copyright) 2014 American Psychological Association.
Journal of Consulting & Clinical Psychology, 82(3) : 510-520
- Year: 2014
- Problem: Depressive Disorders
- Type: Controlled clinical trials
-
Stage: Universal prevention
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Skills training, Other Psychological Interventions
Rohde, P., Waldron, H. B., Turner, C. W., Brody, J., Jorgensen, J.
Objective: We evaluated 3 methods of integrating interventions for depression (Adolescent Coping With Depression Course; CWD) and substance use disorders (Functional Family Therapy; FFT), examining (a) treatment sequence effects on substance use and depression outcomes and (b) whether the presence of major depressive disorder (MDD) moderated effects. Method: Participants were 170 adolescents (ages 13-18; 22% female; 61% non-Hispanic White) with comorbid depressive disorder (54% MDD, 18% dysthymia) and substance use disorders who were randomized to (a) FFT followed by CWD (FFT/CWD), (b) CWD followed by FFT (CWD/FFT), or (c) coordinated FFT and CWD (CT). Acute treatment (24 treatment sessions provided over 20 weeks) and 6- and 12-month follow-up effects are presented for substance use (percentage of days of substance use; Timeline Followback) and depression (Childrenâs Depression Rating Scale-Revised). Results: FFT/CWD achieved better substance use outcomes than CT at posttreatment, and 6- and 12-month follow-ups; substance use effects for CWD/FFT were intermediate. For participants with baseline MDD, the CWD/FFT sequence resulted in lower substance use than either FFT/CWD or CT. Depressive symptoms decreased significantly in all 3 treatment sequences with no evidence of differential effectiveness during or following treatment. Attendance was lower for the second of both sequenced interventions. A large proportion of the sample received treatment outside the study, which predicted better outcomes in the follow-up. Conclusions: Depression reductions occurred early in all 3 treatment sequences. Of the examined treatment sequences, FFT/CWD appeared most efficacious for substance use reductions but addressing depression early in treatment may improve substance use outcomes in the presence of MDD. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved). © 2014 American Psychological Association.
Journal of Consulting & Clinical Psychology, 82(2) : 342-348
- Year: 2014
- Problem: Depressive Disorders, Substance Use Disorders (any)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Service Delivery & Improvement, Psychological Interventions (any)
, Cognitive & behavioural therapies (CBT)
, Family therapy, Other service delivery and improvement interventions
Sharpley, A. L., Hockney, R., McPeake, L., Geddes, J. R., Cowen, P. J.
Background Clinical mood disorders often become clinically manifest in the later teenage years and early twenties and can be associated with a poor long-term prognosis. The primary prevention of these disorders would therefore have great public health value. Nutritional supplements are a feasible intervention for primary prevention and several epidemiological studies have indicated links between low folate status and depressive symptomatology in the general population. Method A randomised, double blind, parallel group, placebo-controlled trial in which participants, aged 14-24 years, at increased familial risk of mood disorder, were randomised to folic acid (2.5 mg daily) or identical placebo liquid for a maximum of 36 months. Primary outcome data (the onset of a DSM-IV mood disorder) were collected from 112 participants; 56 per group. Results The incidence of mood disorder in the folic acid and placebo groups were 14.3% and 17.9% respectively, a non-significant difference. However, there was post-hoc evidence that folic acid delayed the time to onset of mood disorder in those participants who became unwell. Limitations Small sample size and rate of onset of mood disorders lower than expected. Conclusions Although long term folic acid supplementation was well tolerated, with high levels of adherence, there was no evidence that it reduced the incidence of mood disorder compared to those taking placebo. (copyright) 2014 Elsevier B.V.
Journal of Affective Disorders, 167 : 306-311
- Year: 2014
- Problem: Bipolar Disorders, Depressive Disorders
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Complementary & Alternative Interventions (CAM)
, Vitamins and supplements