Disorders - Depressive Disorders
Weytens, F., Luminet, O., Verhofstadt, L. L., Mikolajczak, M.
Over the past fifteen years, positive psychology research has validated a set of happiness enhancing techniques. These
techniques are relatively simple exercises that allow happiness seekers to mimic thoughts and behavior of naturally happy people, in order to
increase their level of well-being. Because research has shown that the joint use of these exercises increases their effects, practitioners who want
to help happiness seekers need validated interventions that combine several of these techniques. To meet this need, we have developed and tested an
integrative intervention (Positive Emotion Regulation program - PER program) incorporating a number of validated techniques structured around a
theoretical model: the Process Model of Positive Emotion Regulation. To test the effectiveness of this program and to identify its added value
relative to existing interventions, 113 undergraduate students were randomly assigned to a 6-week positive emotion regulation pilot program, a
loving-kindness meditation training program, or a wait-list control group. Results indicate that fewer participants dropped out from the PER program
than from the Loving-Kindness Meditation training. Furthermore, subjects in the PER group showed a significant increase in subjective well-being and
life satisfaction and a significant decrease in depression and physical symptoms when compared to controls. Our results suggest that the Process
Model of Positive Emotion Regulation can be an effective option to organize and deliver positive integrative interventions. (copyright) 2014 Weytens
et al.
PLoS
ONE, 9(4) :
- Year: 2014
- Problem: Depressive Disorders
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Universal prevention
-
Treatment and intervention: Complementary & Alternative
Interventions (CAM), Psychological Interventions
(any), Positive
psychology, Meditation
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.\rRESULTS: 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).\rCONCLUSIONS: 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.\rTRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO registration: CRD42012002100.
\rBACKGROUND: 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