A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED OUTPATIENT TRIAL OF COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL TREATMENT FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH DEPRESSION - 9-MONTH FOLLOW-UP

Nine-month outcome data of a randomized controlled out-patient trial o f cognitive-behavioural treatment (CBT) for children and adolescents w ith depression are presented. CBT was compared with a non-focussed int ervention (NFI) in 56 subjects. At 9 months after the termination of t he trial, 21 children (37.5%) fulfilled criteria for a psychiatric dis order (DSM-III-R), out of whom 15 (26.8%) had a depressive illness. Ho wever, 25 subjects (45%) reported depressive symptoms of significant s everity to suggest a depressive episode during the previous 9-month pe riod. Both treatment groups maintained a significant improvement on al l psychosocial measures since the post-treatment assessment. No signif icant treatment effect was established. Low self-esteem at the time of referral, predicted presence of psychiatric disorder, and child-repor ted scores of depressive symptoms and low self-esteem at follow-up. Th e research and clinical implications for the treatment of depressive d isorders in young life are discussed.