A short lesson on personality change cut teen depression more than the other group

The study

1. 01

   Who took part

   96 teens, aged 12 to 15, at high risk of anxiety or depression. About 55 in 100 were girls. At the start, 85 in 100 had symptoms at a clinical level.

2. 02

   What they did

   Each teen did one computer session of 20 to 30 minutes in a lab. One group learned that personality traits can change. They learned it through stories from older teens, a worksheet and writing a note to a younger child. The other group did a supportive-therapy session on identifying and sharing feelings. Parents and teens filled in questionnaires at three, six and nine months.

3. 03

   What happened

   At nine months, parents said depression and anxiety fell more in the lesson group, and teens said depression fell more too. Teens' own anxiety ratings did not differ between groups. Teens' control over their feelings did not differ either, while their control over what they do rose more. The paper gives two different sizes for that last result, so the size is rough.

What the study found

1. Helped

   Parents and teens said depression fell more after the lesson than in the other group.

   • Action: Remember your abilities can growtested

   Small randomised trial of 96 teens at high risk of anxiety or depression · vs teens who had the supportive-therapy session · they rated themselves · ⚠ numbers unreliable

2. Mixed

   Parents saw teens' anxiety fall more than the other group's did, but teens' own ratings did not differ.

   • Action: Remember your abilities can growtested

   Small randomised trial of 96 teens at high risk of anxiety or depression · vs teens who had the supportive-therapy session · they rated themselves · ⚠ numbers unreliable

3. Mixed

   Teens felt more in control of what they do than the other group did, but not of their feelings.

   • Action: Remember your abilities can growtested

   Small randomised trial of 96 teens at high risk of anxiety or depression · vs teens who had the supportive-therapy session · they rated themselves · ⚠ numbers unreliable

Source