Evaluation of a universal school-based depression prevention program for adolescents.

In this randomized controlled trial (RCT, with 2 conditions, intervention and control group) the effectiveness of a universal depression prevention program for adolescents (12-14 years of age) will be tested. Adolescents in the experimental group receive the program consisting of 16 lessons of 50 minutes incorporated in the school curriculum. Measurement of primary and secondary outcomes will be conducted in the intervention and control group at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and subsequently at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months after the intervention.

The (long term) effectiveness of a school-based universal depression prevention program (“Op Volle Kracht”) will be tested in a Dutch sample of adolescents (aged 12-14 years). It is expected that adolescents who receive the intervention will show lower levels of depressive symptoms during the 2 years following the intervention, compared to the control group. Moreover, adolescents in the experimental group are hypothesized to show increases in positive outcomes as well (secondary outcomes) during the 2 years after the intervention, compared to adolescents in the control group.

1. 0 (start);

2. Immediately after intervention;

3. 6 months after end of intervention;

4. 12 months after end of intervention;

5. 18 months after end of intervention;

6. 24 months after end of intervention (end).

Participating schools will be allocated at random to the intervention or control condition, stratified by educational level. Therefore, all adolescents in one school are in the same condition. In the intervention condition, classrooms will be split. All groups receive the program which consists of 16 lessons of 50 minutes and will be integrated in the school curriculum from February until June 2011. The program will be delivered by trained psychologists with a MSc degree. Adolescents in the control condition receive no intervention.