Depression Prevention Program for High-Risk Adolescents

Major depression is one of the most common psychiatric disorders in adolescents. In many cases, the condition is recurrent and can result in serious psychological impairment. A high number of depressed adolescents never receive treatment; therefore, it is crucial to develop prevention programs for this disorder that are effective and can be easily disseminated. This study will evaluate and compare the effectiveness of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and supportive/expressive (S/E) therapy in preventing depressive symptoms in adolescents.

This study will last 2 years. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive six sessions of CBT, S/E therapy, or standard depression education over 2 years. The CBT intervention will focus on reducing negative thoughts and increasing engagement in pleasant activities. S/E therapy is designed to allow adolescents to express their negative emotions and talk about recent stressful events in a supportive environment of their peers. Surveys and psychiatric interviews will be completed by all participants and their parents at the beginning and the end of the study. The surveys and interviews will assess depressive symptoms.