The Efficacy of a Short-Term Group Program for Treating Depressive Disorder in Female Adolescents: A Comparison of the Cognitive-Behavioral and Psychoeducation Programs: A Preliminary Study

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: This preliminary study evaluated the efficacy of two short-term programs for reducing depressive symptoms in female adolescents with depressive disorder. METHODS: The participants were 23 middle school students who were randomly assigned to three groups the cognitivebehavioral program group, the psychoeducation-program group and the no-intervention control group. RESULTS: At postintervention, the students in cognitive-behavioral program group reported significantly lower levels of depressive symptoms, negative self-statement, automatic thought and psychiatric symptoms than did those in the nointervention group and those in the psychoeducation-program group. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the cognitive-behavioral program for female adolescent with depressive disorder was more effective in reducing depressive symptoms than the psychoeducation-program.