In a randomised trial at schools in England, students who took part in a cognitive behavioural therapy course saw small improvements in depression symptom scores
By Clare Wilson
14 May 2024
Teenagers can gain long-lasting mental health benefits from CBT
Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock
A one-day school workshop based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) led to small improvements in teenagers’ mood and stress levels for at least six months, a trial has found.
The result contrasts with several other recent trials of mental health interventions for schools, which found they slightly worsened children’s well-being.
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In the past decade, CBT has become one of the most common kinds of talking therapy offered to people with depression or anxiety. Unlike more open-ended kinds of talking therapy, such as psychoanalysis, CBT is structured with the aim of encouraging people to change unhelpful ways of thinking or behavioural patterns, like focusing on upsetting events or avoiding social situations.
CBT also has the most supporting evidence from randomised trials involving adults with depression, anxiety or other mental health problems. Participants usually see a therapist for 1 hour a week for two or three months.
The latest trial was designed to assess whether a one-day course could have benefits for teenagers, in this case aged 16 to 18. The workshop was offered to students who felt they were experiencing stress, worries or low mood.