Skills for Adolescent WELLbeing (SWELL), version 1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A Randomised Controlled Trial of a group CBT intervention for young people with parental depression treatment optimisation: Skills for adolescent WELLbeing (SWELL)
IRAS ID
305331
Contact name
Frances Rice
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cardiff University
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN13924193
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 11 months, 1 days
Research summary
Depression is common in young people. Young people with a depressed parent are at increased risk of developing depression so finding ways of intervening early and preventing depression in this group is important. A previous study found that a group cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) intervention (‘Coping with Stress’) was effective at preventing depressive episodes in young people at increased risk of depression, but it was not effective when the young person’s parent was currently depressed.
This project aims to test the effectiveness of an adapted version of the ‘Coping with Stress’ intervention (Skills for Adolescent WELLbeing; SWELL). The intervention has been adapted: 1) to be delivered online and 2) to optimize treatment of depression for parents who are currently depressed. It also aims to examine the mechanisms through which the intervention has its effects (e.g., problem solving skills), and how certain factors (e.g. anxiety in the young person, or depression in the parent) might affect how well the intervention works.
A randomised controlled trial will be undertaken. Around 400 young people aged 13-19 years with subthreshold depressive symptoms and/or a history of depression and a parent with a history of depression, will be recruited. If the parent is depressed at the beginning of the study, they will be offered depression treatment. Young people will be assigned randomly to either the intervention (SWELL) or the control group. Young people will be able to continue with any support they are currently receiving. Young people and parents will complete interviews and questionnaires about their mental health at the start of the study, and after 9 months. Questionnaires will be completed after 3 months.
Comparisons will be made between young people in the intervention group and control groups, to establish whether the intervention prevented depressive episodes and reduced depressive symptoms at a 9-month follow-up.REC name
Wales REC 5
REC reference
22/WA/0254
Date of REC Opinion
23 Sep 2022
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion