Stice, E., Burton, E., Bearman, S. K., & Rohde, P. (2007). Randomized trial of a brief depression prevention program: An elusive search for a psychosocial placebo control condition. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 45(5), 863–876. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2006.08.008

Type of Study: Randomized controlled trial
Number of Participants: 225

Population:

• Age — 15–22 years (Mean=18 years)
• Race/Ethnicity — 55% Caucasian, 17% Asian, 15% Hispanic, 7% Other or Mixed Heritage, and 6% African American
• Gender — 70% Female
• Status — Participants were high school and college students with elevated depressive symptoms.

Location/Institution: Not specified

Summary: (To include basic study design, measures, results, and notable limitations)
The purpose of the study was to compare a brief group cognitive–behavioral depression prevention program [now called Blues Program] to a waitlist control condition and four placebo or alternative interventions. Participants were randomly assigned to one of six conditions: (1) CBT group (Blues Program), (2) supportive–expressive group, (3) bibliotherapy, (4) expressive writing (5) journaling, or (6) waitlist control. Measures utilized include the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Results indicate that all five active interventions showed significantly greater reductions in depressive symptoms at termination than waitlist controls; effects for the CBT group and bibliotherapy persisted into follow-up. CBT group, supportive–expressive, and bibliotherapy participants also showed significantly greater decreases in depressive symptoms than expressive writing and journaling participants at certain follow-up points. Limitations include reliance on self-reported measures, small sample sizes, randomization procedures where groups were randomized at different times, the relatively brief follow-up, and the absence of perceived credibility or fidelity ratings for the interventions.

Length of controlled postintervention follow-up: 6 months.

Stice, E., Rohde, P., Seeley, J. R., & Gau, J. M. (2008). Brief cognitive-behavioral depression prevention program for high-risk adolescents outperforms two alternative interventions: A randomized efficacy trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 76(4), 595–606. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0012645

Type of Study: Randomized controlled trial
Number of Participants: 341

Population:

• Age — 14–19 years (Mean=15.6 years)
• Race/Ethnicity — 46% Caucasians, 33% Hispanics, 10% Other or Mixed Heritage, 9% African American and, 2% Asian
• Gender — 56% Female
• Status — Participants were high school students who were at risk-adolescents with elevated depressive symptoms.

Location/Institution: Not specified

Summary: (To include basic study design, measures, results, and notable limitations)
The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Blues Program. Participants were randomized to one of four conditions: 1) Blues Program; 2) group supportive– expressive intervention, 3) bibliotherapy, or 4) assessment-only control condition. Measures utilized include the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children (K-SADS), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Eating Disorder Diagnostic Interview, and the Social Adjustment Scale–Self Report for Youth. Results indicate that Blues Program participants showed significantly greater reductions in depressive symptoms than did supportive–expressive, bibliotherapy, and assessment-only participants at posttest, though only the difference compared with assessment controls was significant at 6-month follow-up. Blues Program participants showed significantly greater improvements in social adjustment and reductions in substance use at posttest and 6-month follow-up than did participants in all 3 other conditions. Supportive–expressive and bibliotherapy participants showed greater reductions in depressive symptoms than did assessment-only controls at certain follow-up assessments but produced no effects for social adjustment and substance use. Blues Program, supportive–expressive, and bibliotherapy participants showed a significantly lower risk for major depression onset over the 6-month follow-up than did assessment-only controls. Limitations include the reliance on self-reported measures; that it was not possible to assess all outcomes that might have been affected by these interventions (e.g., anxiety disorders and social support) due to respondent burden concerns; the inclusion of participants with previous depressive episodes; and a lack of data on potential contamination across conditions.

Length of controlled postintervention follow-up: 6 months.

Stice, E., Rohde, P., Seeley, J. R., & Gau, J. M. (2010). Testing mediators of intervention effects in randomized controlled trials: An evaluation of three depression prevention programs. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 78(2), 273–280. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0018396

Type of Study: Randomized controlled trial
Number of Participants: 341

Population:

• Age — 14–19 years (Mean=15.6 years)
• Race/Ethnicity — 46% Caucasians, 33% Hispanics, 10% Other or Mixed Heritage, 9% African American and, 2% Asian
• Gender — 56% Female
• Status — Participants were at-risk teens with elevated depressive symptoms.

Location/Institution: Not specified

Summary: (To include basic study design, measures, results, and notable limitations)
The study used the same sample as Stice et al. (2008). The purpose of the study was to evaluate a new 5-step method for testing mediators hypothesized to account for the effects of depression prevention programs. Participants were randomized to one of four conditions: 1) a group cognitive–behavioral (group CB) intervention [now called Blues Program], 2) group supportive expressive intervention, 3) CB bibliotherapy, or 4) assessment-only control condition. Measures utilized included the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire (ATQ), the Pleasant Events Schedule (PES), and the Loneliness Scale. Results indicate that group CB reduced depressive symptoms and negative cognitions and increased pleasant activities. Change in these mediators predicted change in depression, and intervention effects became weaker controlling for change in the mediators; yet change in depression appeared typically to occur before change in the mediators. The supportive expressive intervention reduced depressive symptoms but affected only 1 of 2 mediators (emotional expression but not loneliness). Change in emotional expression did not correlate with change in depression, and change in depression usually occurred before change in the mediators. Bibliotherapy did not significantly affect depressive symptoms or the ostensive mediators (negative cognitions and pleasant activities), and change in depression usually occurred before change in the mediators. Limitations include the reliance on self-reported measures, nonspecific factors not assessed, and lack of follow-up.

Length of controlled postintervention follow-up: None.

Stice, E., Rohde, P., Gau, J. M., & Wade, E. (2010). Efficacy trial of a brief cognitive-behavioral depression prevention program for high-risk adolescents: Effects at 1- and 2-year follow-up. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 78(6), 856–867. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0020544

Type of Study: Randomized controlled trial
Number of Participants: 341

Population:

• Age — 14–19 years (Mean=15.6 years)
• Race/Ethnicity — 46% Caucasians, 33% Hispanics, 10% Other or Mixed Heritage, 9% African American and, 2% Asian
• Gender — 56% Female
• Status — Participants were at-risk teens with elevated depressive symptoms.

Location/Institution: Not specified

Summary: (To include basic study design, measures, results, and notable limitations)
The study used the same sample as Stice et al. (2008). The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effects of a brief group cognitive–behavioral (group CB) depression prevention program [now called Blues Program], for high-risk adolescents with elevated depressive symptoms at 1- and 2-year follow-up. Participants were randomized to one of four conditions: 1) group CB, 2) group supportive expressive intervention, 3) CB bibliotherapy, or 4) educational brochure control condition. Measures utilized include the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.; DSM–IV), the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children (K-SADS), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the Social Adjustment Scale—Self Report for Youth. Results indicate that significantly greater reductions in depressive symptoms were shown by group CB participants relative to assessment-only control participants by 1-year follow-up and bibliotherapy participants by 1- and 2-year follow-up but not relative to supportive–expressive participants. Supportive–expressive participants showed greater symptom reduction than group CB bibliotherapy participants did at 2-year follow-up. Risk for onset of major or minor depression over the 2-year follow-up was significantly lower for group CB participants and CB bibliotherapy participants than for assessment-only controls. Limitations include reliance on self-reported measures; some of the sample did not participate in the final follow-up assessment; did not collect objective measures of social adjustment, such as grades, school attendance and parental report of functioning in the home; data were not collected on other outcomes that might have been affected by these interventions (e.g., anxiety disorders) because of concerns regarding respondent burden; and group CB and supportive expressive participants were nested within groups, and this may have contributed to nonindependent data regarding change in the outcomes and increased risk for chance findings

Length of controlled postintervention follow-up: 1 year and 2 years.

Stice, E., Rohde, P., Gau, J, & Ochner, C. (2011). Relation of depression to perceived social support: Results from a randomized adolescent depression prevention trial. Behaviour Research & Therapy, 49(5), 361–366. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2011.02.009

Type of Study: Randomized controlled trial
Number of Participants: 253

Population:

• Age — 14–19 years (Mean=15.5 years)
• Race/Ethnicity — 46% Caucasians, 33% Hispanics, 10% Other or Mixed Heritage, 9% African American and, 2% Asian
• Gender — 56% Female
• Status — Participants were at-risk teens with elevated depressive symptoms.

Location/Institution: Not specified

Summary: (To include basic study design, measures, results, and notable limitations)
The study used a subset of the same sample as Stice et al. (2008). The purpose of the study was to test whether a cognitive behavioral group intervention (group CB) [now called Blues Program] that significantly reduced depressive symptoms relative to bibliotherapy and educational brochure control conditions through 2-year follow-up produced improvements in perceived parental and friend social support, and whether change in depressive symptoms mediated the effect on change in social support. Participants were randomized to one of four conditions: 1) group CB, 2) a supportive expressive group intervention, 3) a bibliotherapy condition, or 4) an educational brochure control condition. Measures utilized include the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.; DSM-IV), the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children (K-SADS), and the Network of Relationships Inventory. Results indicate that group CB participants showed significantly greater increases in perceived friend social support through 1-year follow-up relative to bibliotherapy and brochure controls, but there were no significant effects for perceived parental support. Further, change in depressive symptoms appeared to mediate the effects of the intervention on change in perceived friend support. Limitations include reliance on perceived social support rather than objectively measured social support; a lack of direct measures of negative self-statements, dependency, reassurance seeking, inappropriate/premature disclosure, passivity, or social withdrawal, making it impossible to determine which interpersonal processes affected perceived friend support; the limited assessment of the mediators; and that the group CB was relatively brief.

Length of controlled postintervention follow-up: 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years.

Gau, J. M., Stice, E., Rohde, P., & Seeley, J. R. (2012). Negative life events and substance use moderate cognitive-behavioral adolescent depression prevention intervention. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, 41(3), 241–250. https://doi.org/10.1080/16506073.2011.649781

Type of Study: Randomized controlled trial
Number of Participants: 173

Population:

• Age — 14–19 years (Mean=15.5 years)
• Race/Ethnicity — 46% Caucasian, 33% Hispanic, 10% Other or Mixed Heritage, 9% African American and, 2% Asian
• Gender — 58% Female
• Status — Participants were at-risk teens with elevated depressive symptoms.

Location/Institution: Not specified

Summary: (To include basic study design, measures, results, and notable limitations)
The study used a subset of the same sample as Stice et al. (2008). The purpose of the study was to test whether elevated motivation to reduce depression and initial depressive symptom severity amplified the Blues Program effects and whether negative life events, social support deficits, and substance use attenuated Blues Program effects. Participants were randomly assigned to one of four conditions: 1) Blues Program, 2) supportive–expressive group, 3) CB bibliotherapy, or 4) an educational brochure control group. The present study included only participants from the Blues Program and educational brochure control groups. Measures utilized include the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Network of Relationships Inventory, and developer created measures. Results indicate that for adolescents at low and medium levels of substance use or negative life events, the Blues Program intervention produced declines in depressive symptoms relative to controls. However, at high levels of substance use or negative life events, the Blues Program intervention did not significantly reduce depressive symptoms in comparison to controls. Further, the change in depressive symptoms appeared to mediate the effects of the intervention on change in perceived friend support. Limitations include the focus on change in depressive symptoms rather than onset of depressive diagnosis; and the limited number of potential moderators examined, and with the use of brief self-report scales, some of which were created for this study.

Length of controlled postintervention follow-up: 2 years.

Rohde, P., Stice, E., Gau, J. M., & Seeley, J. R. (2012). Reduced substance use as a secondary benefit of an indicated cognitive-behavioral adolescent depression prevention program. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 26(3), 599–608. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0028269

Type of Study: Randomized controlled trial
Number of Participants: 341

Population:

• Age — 14–19 years (Mean=15.6 years)
• Race/Ethnicity — 46% Caucasian, 33% Hispanic, 10% Other or Mixed Heritage, 9% African American and, 2% Asian
• Gender — 56% Female
• Status — Participants were at-risk teens with elevated depressive symptoms.

Location/Institution: Not specified

Summary: (To include basic study design, measures, results, and notable limitations)
The study used the same sample as Stice et al. (2008). The purpose of the study was to test whether a group cognitive– behavioral (group CB) depression prevention program [now called Blues Program], reduces substance use escalation over 2-year follow-up relative to two active comparison interventions and a brochure assessment control. The second aim examined whether reductions in depressive symptoms mediate group CB effects, as posited by the affect-regulation model of substance use. Participants were randomly assigned to one of four conditions: 1) group CB, 2) supportive–expressive group, 3) CB bibliotherapy, or 4) an educational brochure control group. Measures utilized include the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children (K-SADS) and developer created measures. Results indicate that participants in group CB had significantly lower rates of substance use compared with brochure control participants at both 1- and 2-year follow-up and lower substance use at 2-year follow-up relative to bibliotherapy participants; no other condition differences were significant. Results also suggested that reductions in depressive symptoms from baseline to posttest accounted for changes in substance use over 2 years for participants in group CB relative to brochure control participants but did not mediate effects relative to those receiving bibliotherapy. Limitations include substance use was assessed with a brief survey that primarily focused on use in the previous 30 days and no data were obtained regarding lifetime substance use or the symptoms of substance abuse or dependence; examined only one potential mediator; based on the affect-regulation model and additional mediators should be examined; and attrition rate by 2-year follow-up may have impacted findings.

Length of controlled postintervention follow-up: 2 years.

Rohde, P., Stice, E., & Gau, J. M. (2012). Effects of three depression prevention interventions on risk for depressive disorder onset in the context of depression risk factors. Prevention Science, 13, 584–593. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-012-0284-3

Type of Study: Randomized controlled trial
Number of Participants: 341

Population:

• Age — 14–19 years (Mean=15.6 years)
• Race/Ethnicity — 46% Caucasian, 33% Hispanic, 10% Other or Mixed Heritage, 9% African American, and 2% Asian
• Gender — 56% Female
• Status — Participants were at-risk teens with elevated depressive symptoms.

Location/Institution: Not specified

Summary: (To include basic study design, measures, results, and notable limitations)
The study used the same sample as Stice et al. (2008). The purpose of the study was to identify subgroups of adolescents with elevated depressive symptoms who had the highest likelihood of developing future major/minor depressive disorder on the basis of depression risk factors and participation in three depression prevention programs, with the goal of evaluating the preventive effect of indicated prevention interventions in the context of known risk factors. Participants were randomly assigned to four conditions: 1) Blues Program, 2) group supportive–expressive, 3) CB bibliotherapy, or 4) brochure control. Measures utilized include the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression (CES-D) scale, the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), the Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire (ATQ), the Adolescent Cognitive Style Questionnaire (ACSQ), the Rosenberg Self-Esteem scale, the Network of Relationships Inventory, the Loneliness Scale, the Social Adjustment Scale-Self Report for Youth, and the Major Life Events Scale. Results indicate that by 2-year follow-up, 14% showed onset of major or minor depressive disorders. Results also indicate that negative attributional style was the most important risk factor: Youth with high scores showed a 4-fold increase in depression onset compared to youth who did not endorse this attributional style. For adolescents with negative attributional style, prevention condition emerged as the most important predictor. Those receiving bibliotherapy showed a 5-fold reduction in depression disorder onset relative to adolescents in the three other intervention conditions. For adolescents who reported low negative attributional style scores, elevated levels of depressive symptoms at baseline emerged as the most potent predictor. Limitations include the small sample size, only 46 participants showed onset of depressive disorder during the follow-up, some of the CTA nodes contained only a small number of cases, and several risk factors were not assessed because of respondent burden concerns.

Length of controlled postintervention follow-up: 2 years.

Briere, F. N., Rohde, P., Shaw, H., & Stice, E. (2014). Moderators of two indicated cognitive-behavioral depression prevention approaches for adolescents in a school-based effectiveness trial. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 53, 55–62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2013.12.005

Type of Study: Randomized controlled trial
Number of Participants: 378

Population:

• Age — 13–19 years (Mean=15.5 years)
• Race/Ethnicity — 72% Caucasian, 18% Other or Mixed Heritage, 6% Hispanic, 2% Asian, 1% African American, and 1% Native American
• Gender — 68% Female
• Status — Participants were adolescents with elevated depressive symptoms.

Location/Institution: Not specified

Summary: (To include basic study design, measures, results, and notable limitations)
The purpose of the study was to identify moderators of the effects of a cognitive behavioral group-based prevention program (CB group) [now called Blues Program] and CB bibliotherapy, relative to an educational brochure control condition and to one another, in a school-based effectiveness randomized controlled prevention trial. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: 1) group CB, 2) CB bibliotherapy, or 3) educational brochure control. Measures utilized include the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children (K-SADS), the Adolescent Cognitive Style Questionnaire (ACSQ), and the Network of Relationships Inventory (NRI). Results indicate that baseline depressive symptoms interacted with condition and time. Analysis indicated that elevated baseline depressive symptoms amplified the effect of CB bibliotherapy at posttest (but not 6-month follow-up) relative to the control condition, but did not modify the effect of group CB relative to the control condition or relative to bibliotherapy. Specifically, CB bibliotherapy resulted in lower posttest depressive symptoms than the control condition in individuals with elevated, but not average or low baseline symptoms. Limitations include the focus on depressive symptom reductions as opposed to onset of major depression; the reliance on self-reported measures; did not have enough minority participants to examine whether race or ethnicity moderated intervention effects; and conducted multiple moderation tests, which raises the possibility that some of the findings were due to chance.

Length of controlled postintervention follow-up: 6 months.

Rohde, P., Stice, E., Shaw, H., & Briere, F. (2014). Indicated cognitive–behavioral depression prevention compared to bibliotherapy and brochure control: Acute effects of an effectiveness trial with adolescents. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 82(1), 65–74. https://doi.org//10.1037/a0034640

Type of Study: Randomized controlled trial
Number of Participants: 378

Population:

• Age — 13–19 years (Mean=15.5 years)
• Race/Ethnicity — 72% Caucasian, 18% Other or Mixed Heritage, 6% Hispanic, 2% Asian, 1% African American, and 1% Native American
• Gender — 68% Female
• Status — Participants were adolescents with elevated depressive symptoms.

Location/Institution: Not specified

Summary: (To include basic study design, measures, results, and notable limitations)
The study used the same sample as Brière et al. (2014). The purpose of the study was to test whether a brief cognitive behavioral group (group CB) [now called Blues Program] and bibliotherapy prevention reduce major depressive disorder (MDD) onset, depressive symptoms, and secondary outcomes relative to brochure controls in adolescents with self-reported depressive symptoms when school personnel recruit participants and deliver the intervention. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: 1) group CB, 2) CB bibliotherapy, or 3) educational brochure control. Measures utilized include the Center for Epidemiologic Studies—Depression Scale, the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children (K-SADS), the Social Adjustment Scale—Self-Report for Youth, and developer created measures. Results indicate that group CB participants showed a significantly lower risk for major depressive disorder onset, compared to both CB bibliotherapy and brochure control. Results also indicate that group CB resulted in lower depressive symptom severity than brochure control at posttest but not 6-month follow-up; differences between group CB and bibliotherapy were nonsignificant at posttest and 6-month follow-up. Condition effects were nonsignificant for social adjustment and substance use. Limitations include the reliance on self-reported measures; not enough minority participants to examine whether race or ethnicity moderated intervention effects; the CES-D response format was modified and appears to have selected a less depressed sample; possible lack of generalizability based upon ethnicity; and high attrition rate.

Length of controlled postintervention follow-up: 6 months.

Rohde, P., Stice, E., Shaw, H., & Gau, J. M. (2015). Effectiveness trial of an indicated cognitive-behavioral group adolescent depression prevention program versus bibliotherapy and brochure control at 1- and 2-year follow-up. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 83(4), 736–747. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000022

Type of Study: Randomized controlled trial
Number of Participants: 378

Population:

• Age — 13–19 years (Mean=15.5 years)
• Race/Ethnicity — 72% Caucasian, 18% Other or Mixed Heritage, 6% Hispanic, 2% Asian, 1% African American, and 1% Native American
• Gender — 68% Female
• Status — Participants were adolescents with elevated depressive symptoms.

Location/Institution: Not specified

Summary: (To include basic study design, measures, results, and notable limitations)
The study used the same sample as Brière et al. (2014). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term effects of Blues Program through 2-year follow-up, relative to CB bibliotherapy and brochure control, when high school personnel recruited students and delivered the program. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: 1) Blues Program, 2) CB bibliotherapy, or 3) educational brochure control. Measures utilized include the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children (K-SADS) and the Social Adjustment Scale-Self Report for Youth. Results indicate that by 2 years postintervention, Blues Program participants showed significantly lower major depressive disorder (MDD) onset versus CB bibliotherapy, but the incidence difference relative to brochure controls was nonsignificant; MDD incidence for bibliotherapy and brochure controls did not differ. Although Blues Program participants showed lower depressive symptoms at posttest versus brochure controls, there were no effects for this outcome or for social adjustment or substance use over 2-year follow-up. Results also indicate that participants with higher baseline depressive symptoms showed greater long-term symptom reductions in the Blues Program intervention versus bibliotherapy. Limitations include the reliance on self-reported measures, attrition was associated with higher initial substance use, did not measure other variables, and possible lack of generalizability based upon ethnicity.

Length of controlled postintervention follow-up: 6, 12, 18, and 24 months.

Muller, S., Rohde, P., Gau, J. M., & Stice, E. (2015). Moderators of the effects of indicated group and bibliotherapy cognitive behavioral depression prevention programs on adolescents' depressive symptoms reductions and depressive disorder onset. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 75, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2015.10.002

Type of Study: Randomized controlled trial
Number of Participants: 631

Population:

• Age — 13–19 years (Mean =15.5 years)
• Race/Ethnicity — 61% Caucasian, 18% Other or Mixed Heritage, 6% Hispanic, 2% Asian, 1% African American, and 1% Native American
• Gender — 68% Female
• Status — Participants were adolescents with elevated depressive symptoms.

Location/Institution: Not specified

Summary: (To include basic study design, measures, results, and notable limitations)
The study used a subset of the same samples as Stice et al. (2008) and Rohde et al. (2014). The purpose of the study was to evaluate the moderating effects of individual, demographic, and environmental factors on depressive symptom reductions and major depressive disorder (MDD) onset over 2-year follow-up. Participants were randomly assigned to one of the conditions: 1) Blues Program, 2) CB bibliotherapy, or 3) educational brochure control. Measures utilized include the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D), the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children (K-SADS), the Adolescent Cognitive Style Questionnaire (ACSQ), the Network of Relationships Inventory, and developer created measures. Results indicate that Blues Program and bibliotherapy participants had lower depressive symptoms than controls at posttest, but these effects did not persist. No MDD prevention effects were present in the merged data. Relative to controls, elevated depressive symptoms and motivation to reduce depression amplified posttest depressive symptom reduction for Blues Program, and elevated baseline symptoms amplified posttest symptom reduction effects of CB bibliotherapy. Conversely, elevated substance use mitigated the effectiveness of Blues Program relative to controls on MDD onset over follow-up. Limitations include the reliance on self-reported measures; merged data from two trials that used slightly different approaches to recruitment and facilitation; CB bibliotherapy engagement in trial 1 was higher; and pretest substance use was associated with greater attrition over 2-year follow-up.

Length of controlled postintervention follow-up: 6, 12, 18, and 24 months.

Briere, F. N., Rohde, P., Stice, E., & Morizot, J. (2016). Group-based symptom trajectories in indicated prevention of adolescent depression. Depression and Anxiety, 33(5), 444–451. https://doi.org/10.1002/da.22440

Type of Study: Randomized controlled trial
Number of Participants: 631

Population:

• Age — 13–19 years (Mean=15.5 years)
• Race/Ethnicity — 61% Caucasian, 18% Other or Mixed Heritage, 6% Hispanic, 2% Asian, 1% African American, and 1% Native American
• Gender — 68% Female
• Status — Participants were adolescents with elevated depressive symptoms.

Location/Institution: Not specified

Summary: (To include basic study design, measures, results, and notable limitations)
The study used a subset of the same samples as Stice et al. (2008) and Rohde et al. (2014). The purpose of the study was to empirically identify subgroups with distinct trajectories of depressive symptom change among adolescents enrolled in two indicated depression prevention trials and examine how cognitive-behavioral (CB) interventions and baseline predictors relate to trajectory membership. Participants were randomly assigned within blocks created by sex and school to one of the conditions: 1) Blues Program, 2) CB bibliotherapy, or 3) educational brochure control. Measures utilized include the Center for Epidemiologic Studies–Depression (CES-D), the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children (K-SADS) and the Adolescent Cognitive Style Questionnaire. Results indicate that participants in the brochure control condition were significantly more likely to populate the high-persistent trajectory relative to either Blues Program and were significantly less likely to populate the low-declining trajectory relative to Blues Program. Several baseline factors predicted trajectory classes, but gender was the most informative prognostic factor, with males having increased odds of membership in a high-persistent trajectory relative to other trajectories. Limitations include the reliance on self-reported measures, and merged samples from two RCTs with different inclusion criteria.

Length of controlled postintervention follow-up: 6, 12, 18, and 24 months.