A randomised controlled trial of a family-group cognitive-behavioural (FGCB) preventive intervention for the children of parents with depression: short-term effects on symptoms and possible mechanisms

Objective Parental depression is one of the biggest risk factors for youth depression. This parallel randomized controlled trial evaluates the effectiveness of the German version of the family-group-cognitive-behavioral (FGCB) preventive intervention for children of depressed parents. Methods Families with (i) a parent who has experienced depression and (ii) a healthy child aged 8–17 years (mean = 11.63; 53% female) were randomly allocated (blockwise; stratified by child age and parental depression) to the 12-session intervention (EG; n = 50) or no intervention (CG; usual care; n = 50). Self-reported (unblinded) outcomes were assessed immediately after the intervention (6 months). We hypothesized that CG children would show a greater increase in self-reported symptoms of depression (DIKJ) and internalising/externalising disorder (YSR/CBCL) over time compared to the EG. Intervention effects on secondary outcome variables emotion regulation (FEEL-KJ), attributional style (ASF-KJ), knowledge of depression and parenting style (ESI) were also expected. Study protocol (Belinda Platt, Pietsch, Krick, Oort, & Schulte-Körne, 2014) and trial registration (NCT02115880) reported elsewhere. Results We found significant intervention effects on self-reported internalising ($$\eta_{p}^{2}$$ η p 2 = 0.05) and externalising ($$\eta_{p}^{2}$$ η p 2 = 0.08) symptoms but did not detect depressive symptoms or parent-reported psychopathology. Parental depression severity did not modify these effects. Both groups showed equally improved knowledge of depression ($$\eta_{p}^{2}$$ η p 2 = 0.06). There were no intervention effects on emotion regulation, attributional style or parenting style. Conclusion The German version of the FGCB intervention is effective in reducing symptoms of general psychopathology. There was no evidence that the mechanisms targeted in the intervention changed within the intervention period.

A randomised controlled trial of a cognitive-behavioural preventive intervention for the children of parents with depression: short-term effects on symptoms and possible mechanisms

Objective Parental depression is one of the biggest risk factors for youth depression. This parallel randomized controlled trial evaluates the effectiveness of the German version of the family-group-cognitive-behavioral (FGCB) preventive intervention for children of depressed parents.Methods Families with i) a parent who has experienced depression and ii) a healthy child aged 8–17 years (mean = 11.63; 53% female) were randomly allocated (blockwise; stratified by child age and parental depression) to the 12-session intervention (EG; n = 50) or no intervention (CG; usual care; n = 50). Self-reported (unblinded) outcomes were assessed immediately after the intervention (6 months). We hypothesized that CG children would show a greater increase in self-reported symptoms of depression (DIKJ) and internalizing/ externalizing disorder (YSR/CBCL) over time compared to the EG. Intervention effects on secondary outcome variables emotion regulation (FEEL-KJ), attributional style (ASF-KJ), knowledge of depression and parenting style (ESI) were also expected. Study protocol (Belinda Platt, Pietsch, Krick, Oort, & Schulte-Körne, 2014) and trial registration (NCT02115880) reported elsewhere.Results We found significant intervention effects on self-reported internalising (ηp²=0.05) and externalising (ηp²=0.08) symptoms but not depressive symptoms or parent-reported psychopathology. Parental depression severity did not modify these effects. Both groups showed equally improved knowledge of depression (ηp²=0.06). There were no intervention effects on emotion regulation, attributional style or parenting style.Conclusion The German version of the FGCB intervention is effective in reducing symptoms of general psychopathology. There was no evidence that the mechanisms targeted in the intervention changed within the intervention period.

Knowledge and prevalence of depression among students on College of Medicine University of Lagos

Background Depression is a significant mental health problem which tends to be one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. Depression can lead to suicide and is the second leading cause of death in 15 - 29 year olds globally. Psychological morbidity in undergraduate students represents a neglected public health problem and holds major implications for campus health services and mental policy making. This study was therefore carried out to assess knowledge of depression, prevalence of depression and accuracy of depression status among students of the Faculty of Pharmacy and College of Medicine of the University of Lagos. Methods This was a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out among students on the College of Medicine campus of the University of Lagos. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select the participants while data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Data was analysed using Epi info 7.0. Chi-square test was used to analyse categorical variables where p < 0.05 is statistically significant. Results A total of 400 students across all departments were recruited for this study. Most students were in 18 - 21 years' age group, with almost same proportion of females to males. More than half (56.50%) of the students had good knowledge of depression. The overall prevalence of depression was 36.5% among the students out of which 18.2% portrayed severe depression. More than half of the respondents (54.9%) who perceive they are depressed were actually not depressed. There was statistically significant difference between perceived depressed state and actual depressed state among the students (X2 = 18.14; p = 0.0001) Conclusions More than half the students possessed a good knowledge of depression. About one third were actually depressed. It is therefore important to create awareness programs which can serve as a platform to increase the knowledge and also reduce the prevalence of depression among these students. Key messages Understanding how much students know about depression will help to fill the identified knowledge gap and prevent them from going into depression. Identifying depressed students will help to alert campus health services to manage these students and thereby prevent potential problems associated with depression like suicide or school drop out.

Socio-demographic characteristics and other factors associated with depressive illness among medical students at the University of Port Harcourt

Background: The burden of depression as a mental disorder has continued to increase and constituting an enormous public health concern among all age groups. A number of socio-demographic, and other factors including a stressful and rigorous academic programme or curriculum such as the one run in most medical schools could contribute to the occurrence of depression among medical students. AIM: To determine the socio-demographic and other factors associated with depression among medical students in the University of Port Harcourt. Methodology: This study was a descriptive cross-sectional study. Appropriate sample size was calculated and the stratified random sampling method was used to select the subjects. A well-structured open ended self-administered socio-demographic questionnaire was administered to the students. The Zung Self-Rated Depression Scale was used to assess the depression status of each respondent. The data were analyzed via descriptive and analytical methods. Results: The prevalence of depression among the medical students was 5.3%. Fourteen students (4.6%) were mildly depressed while only two respondents had moderate depression. Year 3 had the highest prevalence with 10.5% followed by final year with 5.3%, while the only 2 cases of moderate depression were found among students in year 2 of their medical programme. Two hundred and seventy-one respondents (88.8%) were found to have good knowledge of depression, 32 (10.5%) were found to have average knowledge of depression and 2(0.7%) had poor knowledge of depression. Conclusion: Depression does occur among medical students at the University of Port Harcourt albeit low, and was associated with a number of socio-demographic and other factors. The present medical curriculum and programme should be sustained and more efforts at making it less stressful and academically friendly, be made to further reduce the current rate of psychological stress and depression among the students.

Knowledge of depression and malingering: An exploratory investigation

Malingering mental disorder for financial compensation can offer substantial rewards to those willing to do so. A recent review of UK medico-legal experts’ practices for detecting claimants evidenced that they are not well equipped to detect those that do. This is not surprising, considering that very little is known regarding why individuals opt to malinger. A potential construct which may influence an individual’s choice to malinger is their knowledge of the disorder, and when one considers the high levels of depression literacy within the UK, it is imperative that this hypothesis is investigated. A brief depression knowledge scale was devised and administered to undergraduate students (n = 155) alongside a series of questions exploring how likely participants were to malinger in both workplace stress and claiming for benefit vignettes. Depression knowledge did not affect the likelihood of engaging in any malingering strategy in either the workplace stress vignettes or the benefit claimant vignettes. Differences were found between the two vignettes providing evidence for the context-specific nature of malingering, and an individual’s previous mental disorder was also influential.

Psychiatric Nurses Providing Post-Stroke Depression Education to Care Partners of Stroke: A Pilot Study

Background: Stroke survivors are a higher risk for post-stroke depression (PSD) after they return home from the hospital. Given that many stroke patients have friends or family members (care partners) present after hospital discharge, this pilot study examined the utility of psychiatric nurses educating family members on how to recognize PSD. Methods: This pilot study identified stroke patients and their care partner while they were in the hospital, to provide education on depressive symptoms, community resources, safety resources (e.g., suicide hotline), how to address symptoms of depression with their care partner. A descriptive observational design was used wherein a psychiatric delivered PSD education to the patient’s care partner (instead of the patient). Knowledge of depression was assessed immediately prior to-, immediately after-, and at a 2-week follow-up after-, the education intervention. Results: This pilot study was not powered to detect a statistically significant difference. However, among the 20 subjects (mean age 61 years), fewer scores fell in the lower range (less knowledge of depression) immediately after the education and at the 2-week follow-up phone call. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the potential of multi-disciplinary nursing consultation to improve outcomes.

Knowledge and Awareness of Depression and its Management among Residents of Surulere Local Government Area (LGA), Lagos State, Nigeria

Background: Depression is a common mental disorder and the leading cause of disability for both males and females. It is projected to become the second most burdensome disease and the largest contributor to disease burden by 2020 and 2030 respectively. When depression is understood and identified early by the society, every individual developing the condition can seek timely intervention. Objective: To determine the knowledge, awareness and management of depression among residents of Surulere Local Government Area (LGA). Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among residents of Surulere LGA.A pretested 4-part questionnaire was administered to 423 residents of the LGA using a multi-stage sampling technique to elicit responses on their knowledge, awareness and management of depression. Data was collected over a period of 8 weeks and analysed using EPI INFO Version 7 Results: Response rate for this study was 86.1% and majority accurately identified the symptoms of depression (89.3%). About 95.0% and 97.8% of the respondents agreed that seeking professional care and talking to someone, respectively can help in the management of depression. More importantly, over 90.0% of all respondents exhibited good knowledge of depression and its management. A statistically significant association exists between respondents’ age, marital status, ethnic group, level of education and the overall level of knowledge and management of depression (p<0.01). Conclusion: Overall knowledge of depression and its management was good among the respondents. However, knowledge and attitude gaps still exist and interventions need to be made.