Effectiveness of an online group course for adolescents and young adults with depressive symptoms: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

BackgroundDepression is a common condition whose first onset is usually in late adolescence or early adulthood. Internet-based interventions are an effective treatment approach to depression. The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of a Dutch online cognitive-behavioural group course known as Master Your Mood (Grip op Je Dip) for young people reporting depressive symptoms. Secondary research questions involve maintenance of effect at 6 months, mediators, and predictors of better outcomes.MethodsWe will conduct a randomised controlled trial (RCT) in which 244 young people aged 16-25 are randomly allocated to the Grip op Je Dip (GOJD) online group course or to a waiting list control group. The participants will be recruited from the general population. The primary outcome measure will be the severity of depressive symptoms according to the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Other outcomes will include anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety, HADS) and mastery (Mastery Scale). Assessments will take place in both groups at baseline and three months later. Effect maintenance will be studied in the GOJD group six months after baseline, with missing data imputed using the expectation-maximisation method. Mediators and predictors of better outcomes will also be identified.DiscussionThe trial should add to the body of knowledge on the effectiveness of Internet-based interventions for depression. To our knowledge, this will be the first RCT on an online group intervention in this field.Trial registrationNTR1694

Effectiveness of an Online Group Course for Depression in Adolescents and Young Adults: A Randomized Trial

“…NL18984.097.07). The trial is registered (NTR1694), and the study protocol has been published [ 35 ].…”

The Design and Relevance of a Computerized Gamified Depression Therapy Program for Indigenous Māori Adolescents

“…Depression is a major concern globally and population-based studies internationally have indicated that 12-month prevalence rates are as high as 6.7% in adolescents [ 1 ]. There appear to be conflicting rates of depression reported for indigenous young people (Māori, the indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand), as these vary from being comparable to nonindigenous young people [ 2 ] through to being approximately two times higher than in nonindigenous populations [ 3 ].…”

“…Hence, there is a dearth of information that has recorded the attitudes and opinions of Māori toward the development of CBT programs [ 19 ] and attitudes of tangata whenua (indigenous people of New Zealand) to the development of a cCBT resource have never been captured before. Since the rates for depression are especially high for Māori girls (when compared to international rates) [ 1 ], it is imperative that Māori have input into interventions that will be developed and trialled, for their benefit. An approach to research, which actively involves Māori, can also serve as a potential model for research with other indigenous minority groups.…”

Indigenous Adolescents’ Perception of an eMental Health Program (SPARX): Exploratory Qualitative Assessment

“…The National Institute for Clinical Excellence recommends cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as the preferred psychological therapy for treating mild to moderate depression in children and adolescents [ 15 ] with emerging evidence that computerized CBT (cCBT) can be as effective as treatment as usual in the reduction of depressive symptoms in adolescents [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ] and superior to waitlist control [ 20 ].…”