Effectiveness of an online group course for adolescents and young adults with depressive symptoms: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
2011

Online Course for Young People with Depression

Sample size: 244 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Rianne AP van der Zanden, Jeannet JAM Kramer, Pim Cuijpers

Primary Institution: Trimbos Institute, Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction

Hypothesis

The study aims to investigate the effectiveness of an online cognitive-behavioral group course for young people with depressive symptoms.

Conclusion

The study will evaluate the effectiveness of the online course in reducing depressive symptoms among young people.

Supporting Evidence

  • The study aims to address the high prevalence of depression among adolescents and young adults.
  • Internet-based interventions have been shown to be effective in treating depression.
  • The course is designed to provide anonymity and reduce the stigma associated with seeking help.

Takeaway

This study is testing an online course to help young people feel better when they're sad, and it compares those who take the course to those who wait to see if it works.

Methodology

A randomized controlled trial with 244 participants aged 16-25, comparing an online group course to a waiting list control group.

Potential Biases

Selection bias may occur due to the recruitment methods and the self-selection of participants.

Limitations

Participants in the waiting list group will not receive the intervention until three months after baseline, making long-term effectiveness assessment challenging.

Participant Demographics

Young people aged 16-25 with mild to moderate depressive symptoms.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1745-6215-12-196

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