Predictors of efficacy in depression prevention programmes: Meta-analysis
Open accessAbstract
Background: Worldwide, 340 million people are affected by depression, with high comorbid, social and economic costs. Aims: To identify potential predictors of effect in prevention programmes. Method: A meta-analysis was made of 69 programmes to reduce depression or depressive symptoms. Results: The weighted mean effect size of 0.22 was effective for different age groups and different levels of risk, and in reducing risk factors and depressive or psychiatric symptoms. Programmes with larger effect sizes were multi-component, included competence techniques, had more than eight sessions, had sessions 60–90 min long, had a high quality of research design and were delivered by a health care provider in targeted programmes. Older people benefited from social support, whereas behavioural methods were detrimental. Conclusions: An 11% improvement in depressive symptoms can be achieved through prevention programmes. Single trial evaluations should ensure high quality of the research design and detailed reporting of results and potential predictors.
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Numerous randomised controlled trials in wealthy countries document the efficacy of psychotherapy-based interventions in reducing depressive symptoms.
“Numerous randomised controlled trials in wealthy countries document the efficacy of psychotherapy-based interventions in reducing depressive symptoms (Jane-Llopis ´ et al , 2003).”
From Group interpersonal psychotherapy for depression in rural Uganda: 6-month outcomes: Randomised controlled trial (2006) · cites this paper as Jane-Llopis et al, 2003
The Methods report that the meta-analysis included 69 prevention programmes, 52 of which reported randomly allocated controls; the Results report reduced depressive symptoms. The programme descriptions include cognitive and behavioural approaches, but also other types of intervention, so the overall finding is not specific to psychotherapy-based interventions. Our copy does not establish that the trials were conducted in wealthy countries. (LLM, conf=0.86)
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References 85 · Cited by 210
- Authors
- Jané-Llopis, E., Hosman, C., Jenkins, R., & Anderson, P.
- Affiliations
- Radboud University Nijmegen (NL)
- University of Oxford (GB)
- Venue
- British Journal of Psychiatry
- Publisher
- Royal College of Psychiatrists
- Published
- 2003-11
- Volume
- 183
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 384-397
- ISSN
- 0007-1250 (ISSN-L)
- 1472-1465
- OpenAlex
- W2082125248
- Cited by
- 210
- References
- 85
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 17 · 2014: 14 · 2013: 16 · 2012: 19
- FWCI
- 1.72
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- The British Journal of Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Radboud Repository (Radboud University) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Digital Mental Health Interventions
- Keywords
- depression prevention, predictors of treatment efficacy, multicomponent intervention, session duration, older adults, social support, behavioral interventions, depressive symptoms, risk factors
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Child, Depressive Disorder, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Social Support, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Mental Competency, Treatment Outcome
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