Disorders - Depressive Disorders
Kindt, K. C. M., Kleinjan, M., Janssens, J. M. A. M., Scholte, R. H. J.
A randomized controlled trial was conducted among a potential high-risk group of 1,343 adolescents from low-income areas in The Netherlands to test the effectiveness of the depression prevention program Op Volle Kracht (OVK) as provided by teachers in a school setting. The results showed no main effect of the program on depressive symptoms at one-year follow-up. A moderation effect was found for parental psychopathology; adolescents who had parents with psychopathology and received the OVK program had less depressive symptoms compared to adolescents with parents with psychopathology in the control condition. No moderating effects on depressive symptoms were found for gender, ethnical background, and level of baseline depressive symptoms. An iatrogenic effect of the intervention was found on the secondary outcome of clinical depressive symptoms. Based on the low level of reported depressive symptoms at baseline, it seems that our sample might not meet the characteristics of a high-risk selective group for depressive symptoms. Therefore, no firm conclusions can be drawn about the selective potential of the OVK depression prevention program. In its current form, the OVK program should not be implemented on a large scale in the natural setting for non-high-risk adolescents. Future research should focus on high-risk participants, such as children of parents with psychopathology. (copyright) 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
International Journal of Environmental Research & Public Health, 11(5) : 5273-5293
- Year: 2014
- Problem: Depressive Disorders
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Other Psychological Interventions
Kramer, J., Conijn, B., Oijevaar, P., Riper, H.
BACKGROUND: Up to 9% of young people suffer from depression. Unfortunately, many in need of help remain untreated. The Internet offers anonymous ways to help depressed youth, especially those who are reluctant to search for help because of fear of stigma.
OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to evaluate the effectiveness of an individual chat treatment based on Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) to young individuals aged 12-22 years with depressive symptoms by comparing it to a waiting list control group.
METHODS: For this study, 263 young people with depressive symptoms were randomized to the Web-based SFBT intervention, PratenOnline, or to a waiting list control condition. The chat treatment was delivered by trained professionals. Groups were compared on depressive complaints as measured by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) after 9 weeks and 4.5 months. For the chat group only, changes in depressive symptoms at 7.5 months after baseline were explored.
RESULTS: The experimental SFBT condition (n=131) showed significantly greater improvement than the waiting list condition (n=132) in depressive symptoms at 9 weeks and 4.5 months on the CES-D, with a small between group effect size at 9 weeks (d=0.18, 95% CI -0.10 to 0.47) and a large effect size at 4.5 months (d=0.79, 95% CI 0.45-1.08). The percentage of participants showing a reliable and clinically significant change in depression was significantly larger for the SFBT intervention at 4.5 months only (28.2% vs 11.4% for the waiting list, P<.001, number needed to treat=6). At 7.5 months, the SFBT group showed further improvements. However, results have to be considered carefully because of high attrition rates.
CONCLUSIONS: The Web-based SFBT chat intervention of PratenOnline was more effective than a waiting list control group in reducing depressive symptoms, and effects were larger at follow-up then at post-treatment. More studies are needed to find out if outcomes will be replicated, especially for those younger than 18 year old.
TRIAL REGISTRATION: Netherlands Trial Register: NTR 1696; http://www.trialregister.nl/trialreg/admin/rctview.asp?TC=1696 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6DspeYWrJ).
Journal of Medical Internet Research, 16(5) : e141
- Year: 2014
- Problem: Depressive Disorders
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Service Delivery & Improvement, Psychological Interventions (any)
, Other Psychological Interventions, Technology, interventions delivered using technology (e.g. online, SMS)
Konig, A., Eonta, A., Dyal, S. R., Vrana, S. R.
Writing about a personal stressful event has been found to have psychological and physical health benefits, especially when physiological response increases during writing. Response training was developed to amplify appropriate physiological reactivity in imagery exposure. The present study examined whether response training enhances the benefits of written emotional disclosure. Participants were assigned to either a written emotional disclosure condition (n= 113) or a neutral writing condition (n= 133). Participants in each condition wrote for 20 minutes on 3 occasions and received response training (n= 79), stimulus training (n= 84) or no training (n= 83). Heart rate and skin conductance were recorded throughout a 10-minute baseline, 20-minute writing, and a 10-minute recovery period. Self-reported emotion was assessed in each session. One month after completing the sessions, participants completed follow-up assessments of psychological and physical health outcomes. Emotional disclosure elicited greater physiological reactivity and self-reported emotion than neutral writing. Response training amplified physiological reactivity to emotional disclosure. Greater heart rate during emotional disclosure was associated with the greatest reductions in event-related distress, depression, and physical illness symptoms at follow-up, especially among response trained participants. Results support an exposure explanation of emotional disclosure effects and are the first to demonstrate that response training facilitates emotional processing and may be a beneficial adjunct to written emotional disclosure. (copyright) 2014.
Behavior Therapy, 45(3) : 344-357
- Year: 2014
- Problem: Depressive Disorders
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Universal prevention
-
Treatment and intervention: Complementary & Alternative Interventions (CAM)
, Psychological Interventions (any)
, Other Psychological Interventions, Creative expression: music, dance, drama, art
Lillevoll, K. R., Vangberg, H. C. B., Griffiths, K. M., Waterloo, K., Eisemann, M. R.
Background: Internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy (ICBT) is a promising approach to the prevention and reduction of depressive symptoms among adolescents. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of disseminating a self-directed internet-based mental health intervention (MoodGYM) in senior high schools. It also sought to investigate possible effects of tailored and weekly e-mail reminders on initial uptake and adherence to the intervention.Method: A baseline survey was conducted in four senior high schools in two Norwegian municipalities (n = 1337). 52.8% (707/1337) of the students consented to further participation in the trial and were randomly allocated to one of three MoodGYM intervention groups (tailored weekly e-mail reminder (n = 175), standardized weekly e-mail reminder (n = 176 ) or no e-mail reminder (n = 175)) or a waitlist control group (n = 180). We tested for effects of the intervention on depression and self-esteem using multivariate analysis of variance, effects of tailored e-mail and self-reported current need of help on initial uptake of the intervention using logistic regression and the effect of weekly e-mails on adherence using ordinal regression.Results: There was substantial non-participation from the intervention, with only 8.5% (45/527) participants logging on to MoodGYM, and few proceeding beyond the first part of the programme. No significant effect on depression or self-esteem was found among the sample as a whole or among participants with elevated depression scores at baseline. Having a higher average grade in senior high school predicted initial uptake of the intervention, but tailored e-mail and self-reported current need of help did not. Weekly e-mail prompts did not predict adherence. The main reasons for non-use reported were lack of time/forgetting about it and doubt about the usefulness of the program.Conclusion: Overall, disseminating a self-directed internet-based intervention to a school population proved difficult despite steps taken to reduce barriers in terms of tailoring feedback and dispatching weekly e-mail reminders. Providing mental health interventions within the school environment is likely to ensure better uptake among senior high school students, but there is a need to effectively communicate that such programmes can be helpful.Trial registration: The trial was registered retrospectively as ACTRN12612001106820. (copyright) 2014 Lillevoll et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
BMC Psychiatry, 14(1) :
- Year: 2014
- Problem: 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)
MacPherson, H. A., Algorta, G. P., Mendenhall, A. N., Fields, B. W., Fristad, M. A.
This study investigated predictors and moderators of mood symptoms in the randomized controlled trial (RCT) of Multi-Family Psychoeducational Psychotherapy (MF-PEP) for childhood mood disorders. Based on predictors and moderators in RCTs of psychosocial interventions for adolescent mood disorders, we hypothesized that children's greater functional impairment would predict worse outcome, whereas children's stress/trauma history and parental expressed emotion and psychopathology would moderate outcome. Exploratory analyses examined other demographic, functioning, and diagnostic variables. Logistic regression and linear mixed effects modeling were used in this secondary analysis of the MF-PEP RCT of 165 children, ages 8 to 12, with mood disorders, a majority of whom were male (73%) and White, non-Hispanic (90%). Treatment nonresponse was significantly associated with higher baseline levels of global functioning (i.e., less impairment; Cohen's d = 0.51) and lower levels of stress/trauma history (d = 0.56) in children and Cluster B personality disorder symptoms in parents (d = 0.49). Regarding moderators, children with moderately impaired functioning who received MF-PEP had significantly decreased mood symptoms (t = 2.10, d = 0.33) compared with waitlist control. MF-PEP had the strongest effect on severely impaired children (t = 3.03, d = 0.47). Comprehensive assessment of demographic, youth, parent, and familial variables should precede intervention. Treatment of mood disorders in high-functioning youth without stress/trauma histories and with parents with elevated Cluster B symptoms may require extra therapeutic effort, whereas severely impaired children may benefit most from MF-PEP. (copyright) 2014 Copyright Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 43(3) : 459-472
- Year: 2014
- Problem: Depressive Disorders
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Other Psychological Interventions
Matsumoto, T., Asakura, H., Hayashi, T.
Objective: This study investigated the soothing effects of fragrance from yuzu, a Japanese citrus fruit (Citrus junos Sieb. ex Tanaka), with salivary chromogranin A (CgA) used as an endocrinologic stress marker reflecting sympathetic nervous system activity. Methods: Twenty healthy women (mean age, 20.5(plus or minus)0.1 years) participated in a randomized, controlled, crossover study. Participants were examined on two separate occasions - once using the yuzu scent and once using unscented water as a control - in the follicular phase. This experiment measured salivary CgA and the Profile of Mood States (POMS) as a psychological index before and after the aromatic stimulation. Results: Ten-minute inhalation of the yuzu scent significantly decreased salivary CgA. At 30 minutes after the inhalation period, the salivary CgA level further decreased. In addition, POMS revealed that inhalation of the aromatic yuzu oil significantly decreased total mood disturbance, a global measure of affective state, as well as four subscores of emotional symptoms (tension-anxiety, depression-dejection, anger-hostility, and confusion), as long as 30 minutes after the olfactory stimulation. Conclusions: Yuzu's aromatic effects may alleviate negative emotional stress, which, at least in part, would contribute to the suppression of sympathetic nervous system activity. (copyright) Copyright 2014, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. 2014.
Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine, 20(6) : 500-506
- Year: 2014
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Depressive Disorders
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Universal prevention
-
Treatment and intervention: Complementary & Alternative Interventions (CAM)
, Other complementary & alternative interventions
Kumar, M. M., Cowan, H. R., Kaufman, M., Hick, K. M.
Purpose: Parent-child reading is associated with improved language achievement and reading skills in children, and may have additional benefits for infants. The Reach Out and Read campaign, in which families receive books and reading-related anticipatory guidance during well child checkups, has been successful in promoting literacy with particularly positive effects among low-income families. Teenage mothers often live in poverty, and their children may have an elevated risk of language delay; however, the Reach Out and Read intervention has not been evaluated specifically in this population. The purpose of this study was to pilot a clinical reading intervention, based on the principles of Reach Out and Read, among adolescent mothers and their children. Methods: This randomized controlled trial was piloted in a teentot clinic in downtown Toronto. Adolescent mothers with children aged 6-20 months were eligible for inclusion. The following baseline characteristics were obtained: maternal age, race, and education level; child's age; child daycare attendance; and number of other adults and adolescents at home. Dyads were randomized into an intervention or control group. Control families received routine care. At each of 3 consecutive well child checkups, intervention families received 1) a new children's book, 2) reading-related anticipatory guidance from their clinician, and 3) an individual session with a librarian who encouraged reading and provided a public library card. Anticipatory guidance was customized to the developmental stage of the young mothers. At baseline and at study completion, all mothers completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and a 3-question survey: null1) What are your child's 3 favorite things to do? 2) What are your 3 favorite things to do with your child? 3) How many days each week do you or another caregiver read to your child? The primary outcome, defined as the proportion of families reading together at least 3 days per week at the end of the study, was compared between groups. Results: Recruitment is ongoing; since the study's launch, 10 intervention families and 10 control families have completed the study.Motherswere predominantly black or Latinawith a mean age of 17.7 years. Baseline characteristics were similar between groups. After completing the study, the proportion of families reading at least 3 days a week was 0.40 in the control group and 0.80 in the intervention group. Additionally, by the end of the study period: 1) intervention families reported reading more days per week than controls; 2) intervention families increased their reading frequency over the study period while control families decreased their reading frequency; 3) intervention group mothersmore frequently reported that reading was one of their favorite activities and one of their child's favorite activities; and 4) fewer intervention group mothers had evidence of depressed mood (BDI score > 10). Sample size is currently too small to determine statistical significance. Conclusions: Although larger studies are required, this clinical reading intervention shows promise in encouraging adolescent parents to read to their children. Providers should consider customizing reading-related anticipatory guidance to the parent's developmental stage.
Journal of Adolescent Health, 54(2) : S34-S35
- Year: 2014
- Problem: Depressive Disorders
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Complementary & Alternative Interventions (CAM)
, Other complementary & alternative interventions
Li, C., Chu, F., Wang, H., Wang, X. P.
Introduction: High stress levels and mental health problems are common among medical students. Behavioral interventions aimed at preventing mental health problems among medical students have been recommended in managing stress during their study period. The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of Williams LifeSkills training (WLST) for improving psychological health of Chinese medical students. Methods: Sixty medical students were chosen as the study group (n=30) and the control group (n=30). The study group completed the 8-week WLST, while the controls did not take any training course. All subjects were assessed before and after the 8-week training period using the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), Trait Coping Style Questionnaire (TCSQ), Interpersonal Support Evaluation List (ISEL) and Self-Esteem Scale (SES). The data of 29 students in the study group and 26 students in the control group were qualified for statistical analysis in the current study. Results: Group-time interactions were significant for the ISEL total (P=0.008), ISEL appraisal (P=0.002), SES (P=0.002), SAS (P=0.005) and SDS (P=0.032). Post-hoc paired Student's t-tests showed that all these measures improved significantly (P<0.05) in the study group but were unchanged in the control group. Discussion: In our study, a behavioral intervention - WLST - improved psychological health of the study group. If confirmed in further trials, these results suggest that WLST could be a means of improving mental health of medical students as well as other groups in China. (copyright) 2013 Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.
Asia-Pacific Psychiatry, 6(2) : 161-169
- Year: 2014
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Depressive Disorders
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Skills training, Other Psychological Interventions
Loucas, C., Pennant, M., Whittington, C., Naqvi, S., Sealey, C., Stockton, S., Kelvin, R., Fonagy, P., Kendall, T.
Aims To review the effectiveness of e-mediated therapies and computer applications for children and young people (CYP) with mental health (MH) problems. To conduct focus groups eliciting service users views on computer-based applications. This work is part of a DH-commissioned website which will provide e-learning to people assisting CYP with MH problems, overseen by the MindEd Consortium at RCPCH. Methods Medical, psychological/sociological, educational and grey literature databases were searched for randomised controlled trials of interventions for MH problems in CYP, either through remote therapist contact (e-mediated therapy) or computer-based applications. Studies were included if the mean age of participants was <18 years or all participants were (less-than or equal to)25 years. In addition, two focus groups of young people aged (less-than or equal to)25 years used four computerised CBT (cCBT) programs for anxiety and/or depression followed by facilitated discussion. Results The review included studies of e-mediated and computer-based therapies for anxiety and depression (N=26), phobia (N=2), OCD (N=2), PTSD (N=1), eating disorders (N=6), ADHD (N=10), conduct disorder (N=2), substance misuse (N=11), autism (N=1), Tourette syndrome (N=1) and psychosis (N=1). Based on the GRADE system, the evidence was predominantly low quality with limited data, inadequate study design and unreliable outcome measures being major contributors to downgrading. The strongest evidence was for cCBT programs for depression in adolescents, and there was some promise for cCBT programs for anxiety in adolescents. The focus groups identified several key issues, including: the need for products to be engaging and up-to-date; the desire to set own goals; being active in therapy; continued contact with therapists; and the importance of endorsement by professionals. Conclusions Computer-based applications such as cCBT show promise and e-mediated strategies are potentially useful. In the provision and development of new products, input is needed from specialists in software design as well as psychology, with consideration given to the software's technological suitability, therapeutic benefit and acceptability, as well as individual autonomy and integration with MH services. There should be continued robust evaluation of the evidence for effectiveness and cost effectiveness.
Archives of Disease in Childhood, 99 : A58
- 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)
Ma, D., Zhang, Z., Zhang, X., Li, L.
Background: New generation antidepressant therapies, including serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRIs) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) were introduced in the late 1980s; however, few comprehensive studies compared the benefits and risks of various contemporary treatments for major depressive disorder (MDD) in pediatric patients. Objective: Multiple-treatments meta-Analysis (MTM) was conducted to assess efficacy, acceptability, and safety of contemporary interventions in children and adolescents with MDD. Methods: Cochrane Library, AMED, CINAHL, EMBASE, LiLACS, MEDLINE, PSYCINFO, PSYNDEX, and Journal of Medicine and Pharmacy databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing medicinal interventions (citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, mirtazapine, paroxetine, sertraline, venlafaxine), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), combined fluoxetine with CBT, and placebo treatment for acute MDD from January 1988 to March 2013. Treatment success, dropout rate, and suicidal ideation/attempt outcomes were measured. Bayesian methods were used to conduct a MTM including age and funding subgroups. Results: A total of 21 RCTs (4969 participants) were identified. Combined fluoxetine/CBT exhibited the highest efficacy, with fluoxetine alone superior to CBT, paroxetine, sertraline, citalopram, escitalopram, and placebo treatment. Sertraline, paroxetine, escitalopram, and venlafaxine showed superior acceptability to fluoxetine and combined fluoxetine/CBT. Combined fluoxetine/CBT combination was less safe, though CBT was safer than fluoxetine alone. Combined fluoxetine/CBT, fluoxetine, and mirtazapine exhibited the highest efficacy; sertraline, escitalopram, venlafaxine, and paroxetine were the best tolerated; and mirtazapine and venlafaxine were the safest. Conclusions: Sertraline and mirtazapine exhibited optimally balanced efficacy, acceptability, and safety for first-line acute treatment of child and adolescent MDD. (copyright) 2014 2014 Informa UK Ltd.
Current Medical Research & Opinion, 30(6) : 971-995
- Year: 2014
- Problem: Depressive Disorders
- Type: Systematic reviews
-
Stage: Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Biological Interventions (any)
, Antidepressants (any)
, Psychological Interventions (any)
, Cognitive & behavioural therapies (CBT)
Li, J., Theng, Y-L., Foo, S.
The aim of this study was to review the existing literature on game-based digital interventions for depression systematically and examine their effectiveness through a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Database searching was conducted using specific search terms and inclusion criteria. A standard meta-analysis was also conducted of available RCT studies with a random effects model. The standard mean difference (Cohen's d) was used to calculate the effect size of each study. Nineteen studies were included in the review, and 10 RCTs (eight studies) were included in the meta-analysis. Four types of game interventions-psycho-education and training, virtual reality exposure therapy, exercising, and entertainment-were identified, with various types of support delivered and populations targeted. The meta-analysis revealed a moderate effect size of the game interventions for depression therapy at posttreatment (d=-0.47 [95% CI -0.69 to -0.24]). A subgroup analysis showed that interventions based on psycho-education and training had a smaller effect than those based on the other forms, and that self-help interventions yielded better outcomes than supported interventions. A higher effect was achieved when a waiting list was used as the control. The review and meta-analysis support the effectiveness of game-based digital interventions for depression. More large-scale, high-quality RCT studies with sufficient long-term data for treatment evaluation are needed.;
Cyberpsychology, Behavior & Social Networking, 17(8) : 519-527
- Year: 2014
- Problem: 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)
, Other Psychological Interventions, Technology, interventions delivered using technology (e.g. online, SMS)
Mungas, R., Silverman, M. J.
Researchers have found recreational music making to have positive impacts and that active music-making may have benefits that extend beyond passive music listening or receptive music-based interventions. The purpose of this study was to determine the immediate effects of a single 45-min group-based wellness drumming session on the affective states of university students. Participants (N= 50) were undergraduate and graduate university students from a variety of majors. Students in beginning classical guitar classes served as control participants. Experimental participants received a 45-min group-based wellness drumming protocol. The researchers utilized the Quick Mood Scale at pre- and posttest to assess a number of state affective components and collected qualitative data in the form of post-session comments to determine participants' perceptions of the wellness drumming intervention. Results indicated statistically significant between-group posttest differences for wide awake/drowsy, relaxed/anxious, cheerful/depressed, friendly/aggressive, and clear-headed/confused. In all affective variables, the experimental condition had higher posttest means than the control condition. General results of this controlled effectiveness study tended to support the use of group wellness drumming based on the specific wellness drumming protocol for university students. Implications for on-campus wellness programs, limitations of the study, and suggestions for future research are included. (copyright) 2014 Elsevier Ltd.
Arts in Psychotherapy, 41(3) : 287-292
- Year: 2014
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Depressive Disorders
- Type: Controlled clinical trials
-
Stage: Universal prevention
-
Treatment and intervention: Complementary & Alternative Interventions (CAM)
, Creative expression: music, dance, drama, art