Search

Purpose: Depressive symptoms are prevalent among Chinese adolescents. However, there is a lack of effective prevention programs to reduce depressive symptoms. Methods: A pilot cluster randomized controlled trial was implemented in a sample of senior secondary school adolescents. Participants in the intervention group (N = 148) received a 6-week universal prevention course, whereas the control group (N = 131) received a routine course focusing on career development. Results: The linear mixed models showed that the group × time interaction was significant for depressive symptoms measured by DASS-21 (F (2, 550) = 5.72, p =.003) and marginally significant for that measured by SMFQ (F (2, 549) = 2.41, p =.09). Likewise, the level of anxiety and stress were significantly reduced after the program, but not maintained in the follow-up. Conclusions: This pilot study showed that a universal prevention program is promising in reducing adolescent depressive symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Poverty continues to be a pervasive social problem within the United States despite a plethora of services and government assistance programs. Currently, universal and guaranteed basic income programs are being actively promoted. Method: This review incorporated universal or guaranteed basic income primary reports open to any country and in English from four academic databases including grey literature between January 1, 2013, and April 8, 2023, using randomized controlled trials or quasi-experimental study designs with no specified outcome. Results: Out of an initial 147 articles, four of the primary studies utilized a randomized controlled trial and one used a quasi-experimental design. One study occurred in the United States. Discussion: Despite the increasing implementation of such programs throughout the United States and their associated high cost, evidence is lacking based on their long-term impact and effectiveness. Further study is recommended including stronger evaluations of current and future programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of solution-focused group counseling (SFGC) to reduce depressive symptoms and improve cognitive functions among Chinese rural older adults. Method: In a cluster randomized controlled trial, 290 participants were randomly assigned to a 12-session SFGC intervention or a control group. the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale and Mini-Mental State Examination was adopted to measure depressive symptoms and cognitive functions, respectively, at pretest and posttest. Results: Repeated measure ANOVAs showed a significant group by time effect for both measures. Paired sample t-tests showed that depressive symptoms significantly decreased in the intervention group, but not in the control group. Cognitive functions did not change in the intervention group, but significantly declined in the control group. Conclusions: Our findings support the feasibility and effectiveness of a culturally adapted SFGC for reducing depressive symptoms and protecting cognitive functions among the disadvantaged older adults in a developing country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) on reducing self-stigma in Chinese people with depression. Methods: By adopting a randomized controlled trial design, 62 participants with clinical depression were randomly assigned to a 10-session CBT or treatment as usual. Standardized assessment tools were used to assess the self-stigma and depressive symptoms in the pre- and posttreatment periods by a research assistant who was blind to the group assignment of the participants. Results: The results of the 2 × 2 repeated measures of covariance (analysis of covariance) demonstrated that after completing the therapy, the treatment group had significantly lower self-stigma scores than the control group. Additionally, the reduction in self-stigmatizing beliefs predicted a reduction in depressive symptoms in participants. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the efficacy and effectiveness of a CBT group intervention in reducing self-stigma for people with clinical depression living in Chinese society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the effects of family-based mindfulness intervention (FBMI) to promote the stress management and early development of economically disadvantaged families. Method: Families receiving social security allowance and full textbook allowance and with children aged 5–7 were recruited. Participants were randomized to an FBMI with parallel programs for parents and children (n = 51) and to a wait-list control condition (n = 51). Results: Intent-to-treat analyses showed more significant improvements in child attention, self-regulation, and in parenting stress, in the intervention group than in the control group. At-risk group analyses showed that the high stress group benefited in small to moderate effect sizes in parenting stress and depression, and in moderate to large effect sizes in child behavioral problem and self-regulation. Conclusions: The results provide preliminary support that FBMI can alleviate the impact of economic disadvantage. FBMI should be applied in social work practice to support disadvantaged families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This research study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a psychoeducation group, which is founded on an Eastern approach to health care, in improving the quality of life of Chinese people with mild cognitive impairment (PwMCI). Method: In a randomized controlled trial (RCT), 40 Chinese PwMCI were randomly assigned to either a 10-session psychoeducation group or the control group. Results: A paired sample t test indicated that the treatment group (n = 18) showed significant improvement in their World Health Organization Quality of Life Measure (WHOQOL) score, while the control group (n = 22) did not. Moreover, an independent t test showed that the treatment group was more effective than the control group to improve their WHOQOL score. A reduction in the depressive symptoms was related to the improvement in WHOQOL score. Conclusions: This RCT provides evidence to support the feasibility and effectiveness of psychoeducation groups for improving the overall quality of life of PwMCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study reevaluates the effects of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of job search interventions on labor force participation. In the trial, various methods of job search interventions were included, of which about half were research-based JOBS (Job Opportunity and Basic Skills) interventions and the other half were practice-based, that is, without a theoretical or empirical base. This study compares effects of the research-based and practice-based interventions. Methods: The trial included data from 1998 to 2000 of 1,013 unemployed people in Finland with 3-year follow-up data from official labor market records. Multilevel multinomial logistic regression was used to analyze the intervention effects on labor market outcomes. Results: The results demonstrated that beneficial long-term effects were produced only in interventions based on the research-based JOBS method for participants at risk of baseline depression. In contrast, the practice-based interventions seemed to have adverse effects on employment. Conclusions: These findings indicate the importance of research-based interventions within active labor market policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study examined the effectiveness of solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) intervention on substance abuse and trauma-related problems. Methods: A randomized controlled trial design was used to evaluate the effectiveness of SFBT in primary substance use treatment services for child welfare involved parents in outpatient treatment for substance use disorders. Mixed linear models were used to test within- and between-group changes using intent-to-treat analysis (N = 64). Hedges’s g effect sizes were also calculated to examine magnitude of treatment effects. Results: Both groups decreased on the Addiction Severity Index-Self-Report and the Trauma Symptom Checklist-40. The between group effect sizes were not statistically significant on either measures, thus SFBT produced similar results as the research supported treatments the control group received. Conclusion: Results support the use of SFBT in treating substance use and trauma and provide an alternative approach that is more strengths based and less problem focused. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To test the effectiveness of Houvast: a strengths-based intervention for homeless young adults. Method: A cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted with 10 Dutch shelter facilities randomly allocated to an intervention and a control group. Homeless young adults were interviewed when entering the facility and when care ended. Repeated-measures analyses and logistic regression analyses were conducted by the principle of intention-to-treat framework (N = 251). Results: Improvements were demonstrated on quality of life; satisfaction with family relations, finances, and health; employed or in school; depression; care needs; autonomy; competence, and resilience in both conditions. A higher proportion of homeless young adults who received care according to Houvast were still receiving care at follow-up and successfully completed the trajectory compared to those who received care as usual. Conclusion: Homeless young adults seem to benefit from service provision in general. Further research on the effectiveness of Houvast is needed after sufficient model fidelity has been achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are rarely used to evaluate social and behavioral interventions designed for releasing prisoners. Objective: We use a pilot RCT of a social support intervention (Support Matters) as a case example to discuss obstacles and strategies for conducting RCT intervention evaluations that span prison and community contexts. Method: First, we summarize existing studies with current and former prisoner samples that highlight RCT methodological techniques. Then, we introduce the trial of Support Matters and discuss obstacles and efforts to overcome those obstacles. Results and Conclusions: We focus on factors related to sampling frame, participant eligibility, sample size, engagement, and attrition. We conclude with general recommendations related to project delays, compromised research sites, and retention. This article provides guidance based on lessons learned from an RCT of a social support intervention with releasing prisoners and their loved ones. Barriers discussed and recommendations presented here will help interventionists develop and implement RCTs in prison to community contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the study to evaluate the Adolescent Outreach Program effectiveness for Youths in Intensive Foster Care in Massachusetts to increase the social support (SS) on the enrolled youth. Topics mentioned include the comparison to services as usual (SAU) with hypothesis on racial and ethnic disparities, the test on treatment effects which uses mixed-effect models, and the result shows that the outreach did not cause the increase of SS to foster youth compared to SAU.

Social and psychological interventions are often complex. Understanding randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of these complex interventions requires a detailed description of the interventions tested and the methods used to evaluate them; however, RCT reports often omit, or inadequately report, this information. Incomplete and inaccurate reporting hinders the optimal use of research, wastes resources, and fails to meet ethical obligations to research participants and consumers. In this article, we explain how reporting guidelines have improved the quality of reports in medicine and describe the ongoing development of a new reporting guideline for RCTs: Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials-SPI (an extension for social and psychological interventions). We invite readers to participate in the project by visiting our website, in order to help us reach the best-informed consensus on these guidelines (http://tinyurl.com/CONSORT-study). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This reaction article highlights areas of agreement and disagreement with the study conducted by Hughes, Rycus, Saunders-Adams, Hughes, and Hughes on the current state of research and practice in differential response (DR). Overall, we agree with several of the arguments put forth by Hughes et al. regarding the limitations of DR research and the lack of a consistently defined and implemented DR practice model. These areas of agreement offer common ground on which to work together to move the field forward. However, we have concerns about the methodological rigor of the Hughes et al. study and questions about some of their findings and conclusions. We draw upon our current evaluation of a five-county DR research and demonstration project in Colorado to provide recommendations for enhancing the design and implementation of research on DR. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]