Study designs of evaluations included in the review
Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing a CBT group with a randomly assigned control group from the same population. The duration of therapy varied from 6 individual sessions to 14 course sessions (2 hours per session, over 7 weeks), and the follow-up period ranged from 1 to 24 months.
Specific interventions included in the review
CBT, defined as 'interventions that seek to promote emotional and behavioural change by teaching children to change thought and thought processes in an overt, active, and problem-oriented manner'. Control interventions included relaxation, waiting list, self-control and supportive therapy.
Participants included in the review
The participants were dysphoric and depressed children recruited from schools. Inclusion criteria for depression included: Beck Depression Inventory score greater than or equal to 12, Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) greater than or equal to 13, CDI greater than or equal to 15, a diagnosis of major depression (American Psychiatric Association DSM-III criteria) or depressive disorder (Research Diagnostic Criteria), Modified Scale for Suicidal Ideation greater than or equal to 11, Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale greater than or equal to 72, Mood and Feelings Questionnaire greater than or equal to 15.
Participants were aged 19 or younger, with a mean age ranging from 11.2 to 19.2 years. There were 79 male and 172 female participants.
Outcomes assessed in the review
Depression, as measured by the following: Beck Depression Inventory, Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale, CDI, Child Depression Scale, Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, Mood and Feelings Questionnaire.
How were decisions on the relevance of primary studies made?
The authors do not state how the papers were selected for the review, or how many of the authors performed the selection.