Effectiveness of the Coping with Depression Course in Reducing Depressive Symptoms and Suicidal Ideation among Pakistani Adolescents: A Randomized Control Trial

Depression is a problem that affects adolescents worldwide, contributing to an array of complications such as interpersonal problems and associated negative behavioral and emotional outcomes. Early, school-based interventions are crucial to address these concerns and promote positive youth development. The objective of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of the Adolescents Coping with Depression Course (CWD-A), in reducing symptoms of depression along with suicidal ideation among adolescents in Pakistan. The present study utilized a randomized control trial pre-post-test design. The sample consisted of 60 participants of age range 15-18 who were enrolled and further divided into the experimental and control group respectively. Among them, 57 completed the intervention. The experimental group received 10 sessions of the CWD-A program in 5 weeks. Pre- and post-assessments were conducted to determine the efficacy of the program. Descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, independent samples t-test, and paired sample t-test were applied to analyze and interpret the data. Post-intervention, the experimental group demonstrated significantly lower scores than the control group for both depression (M = 14.37, SD = 6.06 vs. M = 29.17, SD = 9.36; 95% CI [-18.97, -10.62], p < .001) and suicidal ideation (M = 4.62, SD = 5.39 vs. M = 11.06, SD = 14.13; 95% CI [-12.62, -1.34], p = .016). The overall outcomes suggest that CBT-based prevention programs can reduce depressive symptomology and enhance the mental health outcomes of adolescents. This thus emphasizes the need for inculcating structural, evidence-based interventions in schools to reduce the burden of mental health difficulties, and foster psychological well-being.