Effectiveness Trial of Brief Indicated Cognitive-Behavioral Group Depression Prevention in French-Canadian Secondary Schools

• Published in: School mental health 2019-12, Vol.11 (4), p.728-740
• Main Authors: Brière, Frédéric N., Reigner, Anne, Yale-Soulière, Gabrielle, Turgeon, Lyse
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescents; Behavior Modification; Behavioral Science and Psychology; Bibliotherapy; Brochures; Child and School Psychology; Clinical Psychology; Cognitive Restructuring; Depression (Psychology); Developmental Psychology; Drug use; Education; Foreign Countries; High School Students; Homework; Intervention; Mental depression; Multiculturalism & pluralism; Original Paper; Prevention programs; Program Effectiveness; Psychological Patterns; Psychology; Secondary School Students; Secondary schools; Symptoms (Individual Disorders); Teenagers
• ISSN: 1866-2625; 1866-2633
• DOI: 10.1007/s12310-019-09316-2

Most adolescent depression prevention programs have been tested in the USA and other Anglo-Saxon countries. Their effects in other contexts are less clear. We conducted a pilot trial aimed at testing the effectiveness of the Blues program, a brief indicated cognitive-behavioral (CB) group program to prevent depression originally developed in the USA, in French-Canadian secondary schools. CB group facilitators were endogenous school clinicians. A total of 74 students (mean age= 15.50; 66% female) with elevated depressive symptoms were randomized to CB group ( n  = 37) or educational brochure control ( n  = 37). Participants completed diagnostic interviews and surveys at pretest, posttest, and 6-month follow-up. Results showed that CB group had a large, statistically significant effect on MDD onset at 6-month follow-up. CB group also had a positive effect on depressive symptoms, intermediate outcomes (pleasant activities, negative thoughts), and one secondary outcome (improved interaction with parents) at posttest. These effects were not maintained at follow-up. This trial replicates results from a previous US effectiveness trial. The clinically meaningful effects of brief indicated CB group prevention, at least with regard to the prevention of MDD onset, hold in French-Canadian students when the intervention is implemented by school clinicians. Work is still needed to augment and maintain CB effects in real-world practice.