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Blues Program (Cognitive Behavioral Group Depression Intervention)

An Evidence-Based Practice

Description

The Blues Program teaches high school students who have depressive systems, or who are at risk of onset of major depression, how to apply healthy behaviors to their own lives. Through six weekly one-hour sessions, participants focus on building group rapport, increasing involvement in pleasant activities, learning and practicing cognitive restructuring techniques, and developing response plans to future life stressors. Through reinforcing homework assignments, participants practice applying the skills learned in daily life.

Goal / Mission

To significantly reduce depressive symptoms and to reduce the rates of future major depressive disorder onset among adolescents.

Impact

The Blues Program has been shown to decrease depressive symptoms, decrease rates of major depression onset, decrease rates of substance use, and increase factors that are protective against depression.

Results / Accomplishments

Compared to comparison groups, participants in the Blues Program had greater reductions in interviewer-rated depressive symptoms, greater reductions in self-rated depressive symptoms, and lower rates of major depression onset at various stages of posttest measurement. Participants also had greater reductions in self-reported substance use at posttest and six-month follow-up compared to comparison groups. Risk and protective factors were also improved, with participants demonstrating significantly higher scores on a measure of cognitive behavioral knowledge, greater improvements in social adjustment, and reduced negative cognitions and increased reports of pleasant activities.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
Oregon Research Institute
Primary Contact
Paul Rohde
Oregon Research Center
1776 Millrace Drive
Eugene, OR 97403
(541) 484-2123
paulr@ori.org
http://thebluesprogram.weebly.com/
Topics
Health / Mental Health & Mental Disorders
Health / Adolescent Health
Organization(s)
Oregon Research Institute
Source
Blueprints for Healthy Youth Development
Date of publication
2015
For more details
http://www.blueprintsprograms.com/factSheet.php?pi...
Target Audience
Teens

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An Evidence-Based Practice meets the following HCI criteria:

  1. The program description includes at a minimum: the sponsoring organization, program goals, program implementation steps, and outcomes that have demonstrated program success in achieving the program goal in one or more localities.
  2. The results from an evaluation of the program include quantitative measures showing improvement in the outcome(s) of interest after the implementation of the program (i.e. increase in smoking cessation, not just the delivery of a smoking cessation program). The outcome measure(s) is/are compared at relevant time periods before and after the intervention or program implementation. Alternatively, the evaluation study compares the outcome(s) between an intervention group and an appropriate control group.
  3. The study is of peer-review quality and presents numbers in a scientific manner; measurements of precision and reliability are included (e.g. confidence intervals, standard errors), results from statistical tests show a significant difference or change in the outcome measure(s), and relevant point estimates and p-values are presented. Note: if the results from an evaluation of a program are presented in a scientific manner and the outcome measure is improved compared to the baseline measurement or the control group but the difference is not statistically significant, the practice is classified as effective and not evidence-based.