| This study expanded the existing clinical literature on empirically-supported psychosocial treatments for adolescent depression. Specifically, the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy was evaluated in the treatment of adolescent depression. Adolescents participated in a school-wide screening conducted through the mental health component of the full-service high school. Those whose responses on a computerized interview indicated clinical or sub-clinical levels of depression were invited to participate in the study. Depressed adolescents were randomly assigned to either a cognitive-behavioral treatment group (N = 13) or supportive-contact wait-list control group (N = 12). Treatment group members met in small groups for 16 50-minute sessions over eight weeks in the high school. The cognitive-behavioral treatment program was comprised of cognitive restructuring, attribution retraining, assertiveness training, affect regulation, self-monitoring, self-evaluation, self-reinforcement, self-control, activity scheduling, problem solving, and relaxation training. Outcome measures included a clinical interview for depression and additional comorbid diagnosis (i.e., Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Separation Anxiety Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Conduct Disorder, Mania, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, and Eating Disorder), as well as self-report measures of depressive and anxious symptomology, mood, cognitions, and coping. Compared to the wait-list control group, participants receiving treatment reported a reduction in depressive symptomology, fewer depressogenic cognitions, and improved negative mood regulation expectancies. The current study provides support for the use of cognitive-behavioral treatment for adolescent depression. Various strengths and limitations of the study, as well as suggestions for future research examining the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy in the treatment of adolescent depression are discussed. |
