Randomized Clinical Trial of an Internet-Based Adolescent Depression Prevention Intervention in Primary Care: Internalizing Symptom Outcomes

Tracy Gladstone, Katherine R. Buchholz, Marian Fitzgibbon, Linda Schiffer, Miae Lee and Benjamin W. Van Voorhees
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Tracy Gladstone: The Robert S. and Grace W. Stone Primary Prevention Initiatives, Wellesley Centers for Women, Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA 02481, USA
Katherine R. Buchholz: The Robert S. and Grace W. Stone Primary Prevention Initiatives, Wellesley Centers for Women, Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA 02481, USA
Marian Fitzgibbon: Department of General Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
Linda Schiffer: Institute for Health Research and Policy, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60608, USA
Miae Lee: Department of General Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
Benjamin W. Van Voorhees: Department of General Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 21, 1-17

Abstract: Approximately 20% of people will experience a depressive episode by adulthood, making adolescence an important developmental target for prevention. CATCH-IT (Competent Adulthood Transition with Cognitive-behavioral, Humanistic, and Interpersonal Training), an online depression prevention intervention, has demonstrated efficacy in preventing depressive episodes among adolescents reporting elevated symptoms. Our study examines the effects of CATCH-IT compared to online health education (HE) on internalizing symptoms in adolescents at risk for depression. Participants, ages 13–18, were recruited across eight US health systems and were randomly assigned to CATCH-IT or HE. Assessments were completed at baseline, 2, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. There were no significant differences between groups in change in depressive symptoms (b = −0.31 for CATCH-IT, b = −0.27 for HE, p = 0.80) or anxiety (b = −0.13 for CATCH-IT, b = −0.11 for HE, p = 0.79). Improvement in depressive symptoms was statistically significant ( p < 0.05) for both groups ( p = 0.004 for CATCH-IT, p = 0.009 for HE); improvement in anxiety was significant for CATCH-IT ( p = 0.04) but not HE ( p = 0.07). Parental depression and positive relationships with primary care physicians (PRPC) moderated the anxiety findings, and adolescents’ externalizing symptoms and PRPC moderated the depression findings. This study demonstrates the long-term positive effects of both online programs on depressive symptoms and suggests that CATCH-IT demonstrates cross-over effects for anxiety as well.

Keywords: web-based interventions; internalizing symptoms; depressive symptoms; adolescents; prevention; primary care (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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