Prevention of Depression and Anxiety in Subclinical Adolescents: Effects of a Transdiagnostic Internet-Delivered CBT Program

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Apr 28;19(9):5365. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19095365.

Abstract

Anxiety and depressive symptoms are common problems in adolescence that could be addressed by means of preventive interventions. Even though transdiagnostic cognitive behavior therapy (T-CBT) is potentially an ideal strategy to deal with anxiety and depression, it has rarely been used for preventive purposes. In addition, so far, no study has used internet-delivered T-CBT to prevent anxiety and depression in adolescents. This study aimed to examine the utility of AMTE, an internet-delivered T-CBT program, for the indicated prevention of anxiety and depression in adolescents. AMTE was applied to 30 adolescents (56.7% females, age range = 12-18 years, Mage = 14.00, SDage = 1.89) who showed subclinical symptoms of anxiety and/or depression. Participants were assessed at pre- and post-treatment and follow-up (3 months). We found that after the program, the symptoms of self-reported anxiety and depression, clinician-rated symptom severity, and self-reported and parent-reported severity of the main problems had significantly improved. In addition, there were significant improvements in anxiety sensitivity and emotional avoidance. Finally, we found high feasibility and acceptability of the program. AMTE is feasible and potentially effective for the indicated prevention of anxiety and depression as well as of clinical transdiagnostic factors, in adolescents.

Keywords: AMTE; UP-A; adolescents; anxiety; depression; emotion regulation; feasibility; indicated prevention; internet-delivered CBT; transdiagnostic.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Anxiety / prevention & control
  • Anxiety Disorders / therapy
  • Child
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy*
  • Depression* / prevention & control
  • Depression* / psychology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Internet
  • Male
  • Treatment Outcome

Grants and funding

This research was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (grant number PID2020-117634GB-I00, awarded to P.C., B.S., R.M.V., J.G.-E., S.A., J.C.S. and V.E.), by the Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED; Sustainable Development Goals 2030, awarded to B.S., P.C., R.M.V. and J.G.-E.), and by the Spanish Ministry of Universities (grant number FPU19/05021, awarded to J.C.S.).