Program To Beat Depression

Disorders Cure

oi-Staff

By Staff

Wednesday, February 4, 2009, 11:51

Study has revealed that a new program "Project CATCH-IT," is designed to help young adults fight depression. The study was lead by Dr. Benjamin W. Van Voorhees of University of Chicago, who claims that the program is effective in managing depression in teens.

"[A]n Internet-based program may offer a low-cost way to implement depression prevention in community settings," wrote the authors.The test was carried out on 83 adolescent and young adult patients considered at risk for depression, all had relatively mild depressive symptoms lasting longer than a few weeks and the benefits of Project CATCH-IT was analysed.

The patients were later assigned to undergo a brief discussion regarding depression with their doctor, or to a longer "motivational interview." The groups were later told about Project CATCH-IT, which is described by the researchers as "Internet-based behavior change/resiliency building intervention."

The project is designed to reduce thoughts, behaviors, and relations that increase vulnerability to depression, on the basis of therapies such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, behavioral activation, and interpersonal therapy. The program also develops skills to reduce the risk of depression and promote successful transition to adult life.

The program includes 14 modules that the teens are suppose to work privately on a secure website, most of the teens in the study used the Project CATCH-IT website, including 90 percent of those assigned to the longer motivational interview with their doctor.

The project has proved to be effective in fighting depression, it decreased from 50 percent to 15 percent in three months. The study revealed that the teens will be recommended to use Project CATCH-IT by the doctors to reduce depression. AGENCIES