Comparing Two Online Single-Session Interventions for Adolescent Depression: Outcomes of a Randomized Trial

The web-based supportive therapy (ST-SSI) intervention, called the Sharing Feelings Intervention, is designed to mimic supportive therapy (ST). The goals of the ST intervention are to encourage participants to identify and express feelings to close others; the intervention does not teach or emphasize specific skills or beliefs. In previous clinical trials, ST has resulted in significantly fewer reductions in youth internalizing problems compared to cognitive-behavioral and growth mindset interventions. The ST-SSI is designed to control for nonspecific aspects of intervention, including engagement in a computer program. It includes the same number of reading and writing activities as the other SSIs.

The BA-SSI include 5 elements: (1) An introduction to the program's rationale: that engaging in value-based activities can combat sad mood and low self-esteem; (2) Psychoeducation about depression, including how behavior shapes feelings and thoughts; (3) A life values assessment, where youth identify key areas from which they draw enjoyment and meaning; (4) Creation of an activity hierarchy, where youth identify and personalize (in guided exercises) 3 activities to target for change; and (5) An exercise in which youths write about benefits that might result from engaging in each activity; an obstacle that might keep them from doing the activities; and a strategy for overcoming identified obstacles.

Program includes: An introduction to the brain and a lesson on neuroplasticity; Testimonials from older youths who describe their views that traits are malleable Further stories by older youths, describing times when they used "growth mindsets" to persevere during social/emotional setbacks; Study summaries noting how/why personality can change; And an exercise in which youths write notes to younger students, using scientific information to explain people's capacity for change.