Abstract
Background: The limited reach and effectiveness of psychological treatments for adolescent depression have fuelled interest in alternative approaches designed to promote resilience. Schools offer a convenient location for the widespread delivery of depression prevention programmes, although little research has evaluated the feasibility of delivering interventions in this setting.
Aims: To investigate the feasibility of delivering and evaluating a universal school-based depression prevention programme for children aged 12-16 years. Method: A three-arm pilot study was conducted in one UK secondary school (n = 834).
Results: Interventions had good reach (96%), with high rates of consent (89%) and reasonable retention (78%). The majority of intervention sessions were delivered as intended, with 85% of students attending seven or more sessions. The programme was acceptable to students and teachers, with the specific content of the active intervention being rated differently from the control programmes.
Conclusions: Delivering and undertaking methodologically robust evaluations of universal school-based depression programmes is feasible.
Aims: To investigate the feasibility of delivering and evaluating a universal school-based depression prevention programme for children aged 12-16 years. Method: A three-arm pilot study was conducted in one UK secondary school (n = 834).
Results: Interventions had good reach (96%), with high rates of consent (89%) and reasonable retention (78%). The majority of intervention sessions were delivered as intended, with 85% of students attending seven or more sessions. The programme was acceptable to students and teachers, with the specific content of the active intervention being rated differently from the control programmes.
Conclusions: Delivering and undertaking methodologically robust evaluations of universal school-based depression programmes is feasible.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | s18-s23 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | The British Journal of Psychiatry |
| Volume | 202 |
| Issue number | Supplement 54 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jan 2013 |