Community-based prevention programs for anxiety and depression in youth: A systematic review

Helen Christensen; Emma Pallister; Stephanie Smale; Ian B. Hickie; Alison L. Calear

doi:10.1007/s10935-010-0214-8

Community-based prevention programs for anxiety and depression in youth: A systematic review

Helen Christensen^*, Emma Pallister, Stephanie Smale, Ian B. Hickie, Alison L. Calear

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

70 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Little is known about the effectiveness of prevention and early intervention programs for young people and adolescents once they leave or dropout from school. The effectiveness of 18 anxiety and 26 depression studies addressing prevention in community programs were identified using systematic review methodology. Anxiety and depression symptoms were reduced in ∼60% of the programs. Cognitive behavioral therapy programs were more common than other interventions and were consistently found to lower symptoms or prevent depression or anxiety. Automated or computerized interventions showed promise, with 60% of anxiety programs and 83% of depression programs yielding successful outcomes on at least one measure. Further research is needed to determine the active components of successful programs, to explore cost-effectiveness and scalability factors, to investigate individual predictors of successful outcome, and to design best practice prevention programs.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	139-170
Number of pages	32
Journal	Journal of Primary Prevention
Volume	31
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10935-010-0214-8
Publication status	Published - Jun 2010

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title = "Community-based prevention programs for anxiety and depression in youth: A systematic review",

abstract = "Little is known about the effectiveness of prevention and early intervention programs for young people and adolescents once they leave or dropout from school. The effectiveness of 18 anxiety and 26 depression studies addressing prevention in community programs were identified using systematic review methodology. Anxiety and depression symptoms were reduced in ∼60% of the programs. Cognitive behavioral therapy programs were more common than other interventions and were consistently found to lower symptoms or prevent depression or anxiety. Automated or computerized interventions showed promise, with 60% of anxiety programs and 83% of depression programs yielding successful outcomes on at least one measure. Further research is needed to determine the active components of successful programs, to explore cost-effectiveness and scalability factors, to investigate individual predictors of successful outcome, and to design best practice prevention programs.",

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T2 - A systematic review

AU - Christensen, Helen

AU - Pallister, Emma

AU - Smale, Stephanie

AU - Hickie, Ian B.

AU - Calear, Alison L.

PY - 2010/6

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N2 - Little is known about the effectiveness of prevention and early intervention programs for young people and adolescents once they leave or dropout from school. The effectiveness of 18 anxiety and 26 depression studies addressing prevention in community programs were identified using systematic review methodology. Anxiety and depression symptoms were reduced in ∼60% of the programs. Cognitive behavioral therapy programs were more common than other interventions and were consistently found to lower symptoms or prevent depression or anxiety. Automated or computerized interventions showed promise, with 60% of anxiety programs and 83% of depression programs yielding successful outcomes on at least one measure. Further research is needed to determine the active components of successful programs, to explore cost-effectiveness and scalability factors, to investigate individual predictors of successful outcome, and to design best practice prevention programs.

AB - Little is known about the effectiveness of prevention and early intervention programs for young people and adolescents once they leave or dropout from school. The effectiveness of 18 anxiety and 26 depression studies addressing prevention in community programs were identified using systematic review methodology. Anxiety and depression symptoms were reduced in ∼60% of the programs. Cognitive behavioral therapy programs were more common than other interventions and were consistently found to lower symptoms or prevent depression or anxiety. Automated or computerized interventions showed promise, with 60% of anxiety programs and 83% of depression programs yielding successful outcomes on at least one measure. Further research is needed to determine the active components of successful programs, to explore cost-effectiveness and scalability factors, to investigate individual predictors of successful outcome, and to design best practice prevention programs.

KW - Adolescents

KW - Anxiety

KW - Depression

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DO - 10.1007/s10935-010-0214-8

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JO - Journal of Primary Prevention

JF - Journal of Primary Prevention

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ER -

Community-based prevention programs for anxiety and depression in youth: A systematic review

Abstract

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