Our aim is to create and validate robust prevention of depression and anxiety among young adults at risk for depression, using a classroom-based cognitive-behavioral intervention in combination with Web-based ancillary material. We propose a targeted intervention with a population of 260 college students - 130 in the intervention group and 130 in a no-intervention control group. At risk is defined as those who score in the worst quartile of depressive symptoms but excluding those with severe depressive symptoms. We will track all participants for three years following the intervention, assessing depressive episodes and symptoms, anxiety episodes and symptoms, physical health, grades, and cognitive mediators. We hypothesize that the intervention group will have fewer episodes of depression and anxiety, fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety, better physical health, and higher grades than the control group. We propose that our replicated classroom-based intervention will, when supplemented by Web-based resources, one-on-one boosters, and ongoing Web-based boosters, produce robust prevention of depression and anxiety, as well as maintain durable cost-effective prevention effects. Our ultimate goal is to provide school settings, such as universities, colleges, and high schools with easily implemented prevention programs against depression and anxiety. If this intervention can prevent depression and anxiety robustly, it is possible that such programs can be widely disseminated, producing nationally measurable mental health benefits.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01MH063430-03
Application #
6655588
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-RPHB-1 (01))
Project Start
2001-09-22
Project End
2006-08-31
Budget Start
2003-09-01
Budget End
2004-08-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2003
Total Cost
$454,381
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Pennsylvania
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
042250712
City
Philadelphia
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
19104
Seligman, Martin E P; Schulman, Peter; Tryon, Alyssa M (2007) Group prevention of depression and anxiety symptoms. Behav Res Ther 45:1111-26
Duckworth, Angela L; Seligman, Martin E P (2005) Self-discipline outdoes IQ in predicting academic performance of adolescents. Psychol Sci 16:939-44
Lee Duckworth, Angela; Steen, Tracy A; Seligman, Martin E P (2005) Positive psychology in clinical practice. Annu Rev Clin Psychol 1:629-51