
Cognitive-behavioral intervention for depressed, substance-abusing adolescents: development and pilot testing.
OBJECTIVES: To develop a cognitive-behavioral treatment for depressed, substance-abusing adolescents, determine its feasibility, and test its association with symptomatic improvement. METHOD: Based on the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral interventions for either adolescent depression or substance abuse, an integrated group and family therapy intervention was developed for adolescents with both problems. The developers treated a group of six adolescents and families, and then trained experienced therapists to deliver the treatment to a second group of seven. Adolescents were 14 to 18 years of age. Measures of depression and substance abuse were collected before, during, and after treatment. RESULTS: High retention in treatment and attendance at sessions supported feasibility. Parent interviews demonstrated significant improvement in adolescent substance abuse, and adolescent measures demonstrated significant improvement in both domains. CONCLUSIONS: Integrated outpatient cognitive-behavioral intervention is feasible and associated with improvement for depressed, substance-abusing adolescents. Controlled efficacy studies are needed. Additional treatment modalities will be required for a proportion of these adolescents.
Duke Scholars
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Related Subject Headings
- Substance-Related Disorders
- Male
- Humans
- Female
- Feasibility Studies
- Family Therapy
- Developmental & Child Psychology
- Depressive Disorder
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Adolescent
Citation

Published In
DOI
ISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Location
Related Subject Headings
- Substance-Related Disorders
- Male
- Humans
- Female
- Feasibility Studies
- Family Therapy
- Developmental & Child Psychology
- Depressive Disorder
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Adolescent