Adolescent depression: Evaluation of a preventive intervention and identification of risk factors

这个项目将评估以学校为基础的预防青少年抑郁项目的长期有效性。它还旨在确定那些没有接受干预的人患抑郁症的预测因素。干预的重点是在以课堂为基础的课程中训练人际关系解决问题的能力和增强乐观的思维方式。本项目是对申请人现有研究项目的延伸。在当地教育当局的支持下，该干预措施已经在1600名年轻人中制定和实施。评估采用了经过充分研究的测量方法，并包括一组没有接受干预的青少年作为对照组。大约5%的青少年患有临床水平的抑郁症，更大的比例表现为亚临床水平。抑郁症会导致许多使人衰弱的后果，如学业、工作和社会功能受损，也是青少年自杀的一个风险因素。预防心理健康问题是联邦和各州政府的一个优先事项，但很少有研究表明预防性干预措施的有效性，特别是在抑郁症领域。如果本研究显示出积极的结果，它将提供关于应列入学校课程的预防材料的重要指导方针。据预测：A)在4年的随访中，干预将与较低的抑郁水平相关，特别是对于那些在干预前被评估为表现出轻度抑郁症状、较差的解决问题能力或悲观认知风格的青少年。b)未接受干预的青少年抑郁发展的危险因素将包括最初的轻度抑郁症状、较差的解决问题能力和悲观的归因风格。

This project will evaluate the long-term effectiveness of a school-based program to prevent depression among adolescents. It also aims to identify factors that predict the onset of depression in those who do not receive the intervention. The intervention focuses on the training of interpersonal problem solving skills and enhancement of optimistic thinking styles within a classroom-based curriculum. This project extends the current research program of the applicant. The intervention has already been developed and implemented with 1600 young people, with the support of local education authorities. The evaluation uses well-researched measures and includes a control group of adolescents who do not receive the intervention. Around 5% of adolescents experience clinical levels of depression and an even larger percentage show subclinical levels. Depression results in many debilitating consequences such as impaired school, work and social functioning and is also a risk factor in adolescent suicide. The prevention of mental health problems is a priority for Commonwealth and State governments and yet there is minimal research to demonstrate the effectiveness of preventive interventions, particularly in the area of depression. If the present study demonstrates a positive outcome, it will provide important guidelines as to preventive materials that should be included in the school curriculum. It is predicted that: a) the intervention will be associated with lower levels of depression over the 4 year follow-up, particularly for adolescents who are assessed as showing mild symptoms of depression, poor problem solving skills or pessimistic cognitive style prior to intervention b) risk factors for the development of depression in adolescents who do not receive the intervention will include initial mild symptoms of depression, poor problem solving skills and pessimistic attributional style.