Research Review: Can we justify the widespread dissemination of universal, school-based interventions for the prevention of depression among children and adolescents?

This review examines the evidence concerning the efficacy and effectiveness of universal, school‐based interventions designed to prevent the development of depression in children and adolescents. It evaluates the outcomes of research in relation to standards of evidence specified by the Society for...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of child psychology and psychiatry 2007-06, Vol.48 (6), p.526-542
Main Authors: Spence, Susan H, Shortt, Alison L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adolescents
Adult and adolescent clinical studies
Behavior Modification
Biological and medical sciences
Child
Child clinical studies
Child psychology
Children
Counseling Effectiveness
Depression
Depression (Psychology)
Depressive Disorder - diagnosis
Depressive Disorder - prevention & control
Diffusion of Innovation
Health Education
Humans
Individual Development
Intervention
Interventions
Mass Screening
Medical sciences
Mental depression
Mood disorders
Outcomes of Treatment
Pediatrics
Prevention
Preventive programmes
Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Risk Factors
School
School based
School Health Services
Social Environment
Treatment Outcome
United States
universal
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Summary:This review examines the evidence concerning the efficacy and effectiveness of universal, school‐based interventions designed to prevent the development of depression in children and adolescents. It evaluates the outcomes of research in relation to standards of evidence specified by the Society for Prevention Research (Flay et al., 2005). The limited evidence available brings into doubt the efficacy and effectiveness of current universal, school‐based approaches to the prevention of depression, suggesting that the widespread dissemination of such interventions would be premature. Relatively brief programs, that focus specifically on enhancing individual skills and characteristics of the individual in the absence of environmental change, may be insufficient to produce lasting effects in the prevention of depression among children and adolescents.
ISSN:0021-9630
1469-7610
DOI:10.1111/j.1469-7610.2007.01738.x