Evaluation of a school-based mental health program
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN28974509 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN28974509 |
| Protocol serial number | N/A |
| Sponsor | Kristianstad University |
| Funder | Kristianstad University |
- Submission date
- 30/03/2015
- Registration date
- 14/04/2015
- Last edited
- 14/04/2015
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Mental and Behavioural Disorders
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Depression or persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness lowers the quality of life in adolescents. Depression can also block progress in learning and development of social and emotional skills. In recent times there has been a big increase in Swedish adolescents reporting feeling depressed or experiencing stress. Preventing depression in adolescents can both lessen individual suffering and lower the costs (financial and social) associated with the disorder. Treatments aimed at preventing depression or depressed feelings in adolescents are being used more and more within the school system. This is often in the form of group-based programs led by school nurses, school social workers or teachers. An example of such a program used frequently in Sweden today is called Depression in Swedish Adolescents (DISA). Group participants don’t have to have depression so it’s a universal prevention program. DISA involves ten structured 1.5 hour group sessions held once a week. The groups have around ten participants and are led by group leaders trained in the DISA method. DISA is usually used with girls in grade 8 (age 14). The aim of this study is to see whether interventions using DISA work well in preventing depression in adolescents, both boys and girls, and to also see what the health-economic benefits of the program might be.
Who can participate?
Male and female students in grade 8 (Sweden).
What does the study involve?
Participants are divided into two groups: students who attend DISA-program meetings which are held during school hours, and students who attend school as usual. The program is held on school premises and is carried out by trained and experienced DISA tutors who are school nurses, school social workers or teachers. Participants complete survey questionnaires which are given at different times during the course of the study. All participants also have both group and individual interviews.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
A benefit of participating is that it will help provide information on whether a universal depression prevention program in schools can help lower the number of adolescents suffering from depression.
Where is the study run from?
Schools in six municipalities in southern Sweden.
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
March 2012 to June 2018
Who is funding the study?
Kristianstad University (Sweden)
Who is the main contact?
Pernilla Garmy (Sweden)
pernilla.garmy@hkr.se
Contact information
Scientific
Kristianstad University
Kristianstad
291 88
Sweden
 ORCID ID |
0000-0003-1643-0171 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +46 (0) 44 208589 |
| pernilla.garmy@hkr.se |
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Quasi-experimental longitudinal design |
| Secondary study design | Non randomised study |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | Preventing mental disorders in adolescents with school based systematic interventions: an effectiveness study in a school setting |
| Study objectives | DISA originates from a program developed in the US called the Coping With Stress course (CWS) which was directed at teenagers (boys and girls), especially those with evidence of depressive symptoms. CWS was found to be effective in the US however no study has been carried out to see whether the Swedish DISA-program is effective in Sweden. Health-economic evaluations of school based programs aimed at preventing depression in adolescents in Sweden have been lacking thus far, and both the National Board of Health and Welfare and the Swedish Council on Health Technology Assessment have called for such studies. Thus, the the aim of this study is to examine whether the mental health program DISA is feasible and promotes well-being and mental health in adolescents. |
| Ethics approval(s) | Ethics Committee Lund University, 15/08/2012, ref: 2012/462 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Depression |
| Intervention | School based DISA-program (a cognitive behavioral, manual based, program) |
| Intervention type | Behavioural |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
Depressive symptoms and health related quality of life: |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
1. Feasibility and cost-effectiveness |
| Completion date | 30/06/2018 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Mixed |
|---|---|
| Age group | Child |
| Lower age limit | 14 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 1500 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. At baseline the participants are students in grade 8 (aged ~14) |
| Key exclusion criteria | No exclusion criteria |
| Date of first enrolment | 01/09/2012 |
| Date of final enrolment | 30/06/2017 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Sweden
Study participating centres
Kristianstad
291 88
Sweden
Lund
Sweden
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | Yes |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Available on request |
| IPD sharing plan |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
