Effectiveness of School-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Preventing Depression in Young Adolescents

Depression is a serious illness that affects a person's mood, thoughts, and physical
well-being. Research suggests that approximately one in five children meets criteria for a
major depressive episode by the end of high school. These children are at increased risk for
a wide range of social, psychological, physical, and achievement-related problems. Thus, the
potential benefits of effective and highly transportable depression prevention programs are
enormous. The Penn Resiliency Program (PRP) is a school-based group intervention that
teaches cognitive behavioral and social problem-solving skills to young adolescents. This
study will examine the effectiveness of PRP in preventing symptoms of depression and anxiety
among a group of young adolescents.

Participants in this open label study will be randomly assigned to one of three groups:
adolescent only PRP, adolescent plus parent PRP, or no treatment control. In adolescent PRP,
students will be taught cognitive and behavioral problem solving skills by school counselors
and teachers. Parents in PRP will be taught to model and reinforce the skills taught in the
adolescent program. Participants in the adolescent program will attend twelve 90-minute
group sessions after school hours. Participants in the parent program will attend six
90-minute group sessions. Adolescent participants will attend booster sessions twice per
year for 2 to 3 years after the initial treatment has ended. Parents will attend one booster
session per year during the follow-up phase. Adolescents' depression and anxiety symptoms
will be assessed through questionnaires at baseline, post-treatment, and 6-month intervals
for 2 to 3 years following the intervention. Adolescents will also complete questionnaires
about their coping behaviors, feelings of hopelessness, and several other outcomes related
to depression and anxiety in adolescence. Data will be collected once per year from parents
and teachers. Adolescent participants will also be assessed for depression and anxiety
disorders each year the child is in the study.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Student with above average levels of depression and anxiety symptoms (students with
average or below average symptoms will be enrolled into the study space permitting)

Exclusion Criteria:

- Not a student in a participating school

- Not a student in grades six through eight