Early detection of depression in young people is very important so that they receive appropriate counselling as soon as possible. PhD candidate Marieke van den Heuvel studied how to improve depression prevention in young people. It turns out that there is room for modular interventions, which can be tailored to the young person's own needs.
For the past six years, as an external PhD candidate at the Trimbos Institute, Marieke van den Heuvel has been conducting research on improving the effectiveness of depression prevention in adolescents. Here, the focus was on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
Order of modules does not matter
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for depression often consists of established protocols. In Van den Heuvel's study, CBT was broken down and four training modules of three sessions each were developed: problem solving (Solve), cognitive restructuring (Think), behavioural activation (Act) and relaxation (Relax).
The four modules together are called the 'STARr training', where the small r stands for repeat, as young people are encouraged to practice a lot. The STARr training was initially developed for research but is now widely used in practice in neighbourhood teams, mental health institutions and schools, among others.
More alignment with young people possible
The modules were offered in different sequences to groups of secondary school students with elevated depressive symptoms. Van den Heuvel's research shows that the order in which these elements are offered in indicated group prevention does not matter. "Now that we know that the order of elements does not matter for the effect of CBT for depression, this opens the door to more modular interventions. The order of modules can be tailored to the wishes and needs of the young people themselves," says Marieke van den Heuvel.
Individual and societal problem
It is important that young people with symptoms of depression are identified early and receive appropriate counselling. This is because depression is not only an individual problem, but also a societal one. Van den Heuvel showed that subclinical depression in adolescents costs our society 42 million euros annually.
"Structural government funding for depression prevention in youth is therefore important. Only then can depression prevention be implemented sustainably and we can work towards a depression-free future for as many young people as possible," said Marieke van den Heuvel.
PhD dissertation
On Thursday 12 January at 13:00, Marieke van den Heuvel will defend her dissertation 'Rise and shine like a STARr' at Erasmus University Rotterdam. The PhD ceremony can be followed online.
If you would like to receive the dissertation, please mail to whboone@che.nl.
- PhD student
- More information
The STARr training material is freely available to professionals via the VGCt.
Marieke is currently working as a lecturer-researcher at Christelijke Hogeschool Ede. For questions or comments, please mail to whboone@che.nl.
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