None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Depressive disorder in adolescents is common and largely untreated. Cognitive-behavioural therapy has been found to be effective in treating mild to moderate depression. Being a structured therapy it lends itself very well to a computer medium to be used as a self-help programme. As young people are frequent users of modern technologies, utilising computers in the design of health interventions seems a reasonable choice. However, to date no computerised CBT programmes have specifically targeted adolescents. Computerised intervention has the potential to be an inexpensive, low risk and widely available depression treatment. This study pilots two self-developed computer resources (comapring CBT-based programme with a control psychoeducation/self-care message) to treat mild-to-moderate depression in adolescents attending secondary schools. The aim of the study is to assess the resource's feasibility, acceptability and appeal with a view of refining it and carrying out a larger trial in the future.
Interventions
Half of the participants are completing a computer resource with a CBT-based guided self-help intervention (the study intervention). Programme consists of 7 modules requiring sequential completion within 4-8 weeks under minimal supervision from a school guidance counsellor/clinician.
Sponsors
University of Auckland
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
13 Years to 19 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Presentation to school guidance counsellor/clinician for low mood/depression. English language competency and computer literacy.
Exclusion criteria
High risk of sucidal/self-harm behaviour; currently receiving psychological treatment/counselling; learning disability.
Outcome results
None listed