Abstract
Depression is highly prevalent in college students with a lack of access to care on college campuses. This study utilized a novel recruitment strategy and examined the efficacy of CBT provided by specialists in a depression clinical research center. We conducted depression screenings at four universities in the Boston area. 30 college students (ages 18–24 between 2009 and 2013) who were experiencing symptoms of depression and/or suicidal ideation were offered 12-weeks of a flexible manualized form of CBT. CBT resulted in a significant reduction in depression, anxiety, suicidality, and some forms of negative cognition. CBT was effective for reducing depression and related symptoms, including suicidality. Larger-scale, controlled trials, utilizing novel recruitment strategies joining academic medical centers with college campuses in desperate need of services, are needed to confirm whether this treatment and methodology would be feasible and effective for this vulnerable population.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arria, A. M., O’Grady, K. E., Caldeira, K. M., Vincent, K. B., Wilcox, H. C., & Wish, E. D. (2009). Suicide ideation among college students: A multivariate analysis. Archives of Suicide Research, 13(3), 230–246. https://doi.org/10.1080/13811110903044351.
Beck, A. T., Epstein, N., Brown, G., & Steer, R. A. (1988). An inventory for measuring clinical anxiety: Psychometric properties. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 56(6), 893. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.56.6.893.
Beck, A. T., & Steer, R. A. (1990). Manual for the beck anxiety inventory. San Antonio, TX: Psychological Corporation.
Beck, A. T., Ward, C. H., Mendelson, M., Mock, J., & Erbaugh, J. (1961). An inventory for measuring depression. Archives of General Psychiatry, 4(6), 561–571. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.1961.01710120031004.
Chorpita, B. F. (2007). Modular cognitive-behavioral therapy for childhood anxiety disorders. New York: Guilford Press.
Cohen, S., Kamarck, T., & Mermelstein, R. (1983). A global measure of perceived stress. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 24(4), 385–396. https://doi.org/10.2307/2136404.
Cukrowicz, K. C., Schlegel, E. F., Smith, P. N., Jacobs, M. P., Van Orden, K. A., Paukert, A. L., et al. (2011). Suicide ideation among college students evidencing subclinical depression. Journal of American College Health, 59(7), 575–581. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2010.483710.
Dozois, D. J. A., Bieling, P. J., Patelis-Siotis, I., Hoar, L., Chudzik, S., McCabe, K., et al. (2009). Changes in self-schema structure in cognitive therapy for major depressive disorder: A randomized clinical trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 77(6), 1078–1088. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0016886.
Eisenberg, D., & Chung, H. (2012). Adequacy of depression treatment among college students in the United States. General Hospital Psychiatry, 34(3), 213–220. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2012.01.002.
Farabaugh, A., Bitran, S., Nyer, M., Holt, D. J., Pedrelli, P., Shyu, I., et al. (2012). Depression and suicidal ideation in college students. Psychopathology, 45(4), 228–234. https://doi.org/10.1159/000331598.
Farabaugh, A. H., Bitran, S., Witte, J., Alpert, J., Chuzi, S., Clain, A. J., et al. (2010). Anxious depression and early changes in the HAMD-17 anxiety-somatization factor items and antidepressant treatment outcome. International Clinical Psychopharmacology, 25(4), 214–217. https://doi.org/10.1097/YIC.0b013e328339fbbd.
Farabaugh, A., Nyer, M., Holt, D., Baer, L., Petrie, S., DiPierro, M., et al. (2015). Screening for suicide risk in the college population. Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, 33(1), 78–94. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10942-014-0203-6.
Farchione, T. J., Fairholme, C. P., Ellard, K. K., Boisseau, C. L., Thompson-Hollands, J., Carl, J. R., et al. (2012). Unified protocol for transdiagnostic treatment of emotional disorders: A randomized controlled trial. Behavior Therapy, 43(3), 666–678. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2012.01.001.
Gelenberg, A. J., Freeman, M. P., Markowitz, J. C., Rosenbaum, J. F., Thase, M. E., Trivedi, M. H., et al. (2010). Practice guideline for the treatment of patients with major depressive disorder third edition. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 167(10), 1.
Haddock, S. A., Weiler, L. M., Trump, L. J., & Henry, K. L. (2017). The efficacy of internal family systems therapy in the treatment of depression among female college students: A pilot study. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 43(1), 131–144. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12184.
Hollon, S. D., & Kendall, P. C. (1980). Cognitive self-statements in depression: Development of an automatic thoughts questionnaire. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 4(4), 383–395. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01178214.
Ibrahim, A. K., Kelly, S. J., Adams, C. E., & Glazebrook, C. (2013). A systematic review of studies of depression prevalence in university students. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 47(3), 391–400. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2012.11.015.
Marsh, C. N., & Wilcoxon, S. A. (2015). Underutilization of mental health services among college students: An examination of system-related barriers. Journal of College Student Psychotherapy, 29(3), 227–243. https://doi.org/10.1080/87568225.2015.1045783.
McIndoo, C. C., File, A. A., Preddy, T., Clark, C. G., & Hopko, D. R. (2016). Mindfulness-based therapy and behavioral activation: A randomized controlled trial with depressed college students. Behavior Research and Therapy, 77, 118–128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2015.12.012.
Miller, E. J., & Chung, H. (2009). A literature review of studies of depression and treatment outcomes among U.S. college students since 1990. Psychiatric Services, 60(9), 1257–1260. https://doi.org/10.1176/ps.2009.60.9.1257.
Nock, M. K. (2009). Why do people hurt themselves?: New insights into the nature and functions of self-injury. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 18(2), 78–83. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8721.2009.01613.x.
Nyer, M. B., Cassiello-Robbins, C., Nock, M. K., Petrie, S. R., Holt, D. J., Fisher, L. B., et al. (2015). A case series of individual six-week cognitive behavioral therapy with individually tailored manual-based treatment delivery for depressed college students with or without suicidal ideation. Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, 33(2), 134–147. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10942-015-0206-y.
Radhu, N., Daskalakis, Z. J., Arpin-Cribbie, C. A., Irvine, J., & Ritvo, P. (2012). Evaluating a web-based cognitive-behavioral therapy for maladaptive perfectionism in university students. Journal of American College Health, 60(5), 357–366. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2011.630703.
Shaw, B. F. (1984). Specification of the training and evaluation of cognitive therapists for outcome studies. In J. B. Williams & R. L. Spitzer (Eds.), Psychotherapy research: Where are we and where should we go?: Proceedings of the 73rd Annual Meeting of the American Psychopathological Association, New York City, March 3–5, 1983. Guilford Press.
Sonawalla, S. B., Kelly, K. E., Neault, N. B., Mischoulon, D., Farabaugh, A. H., Pava, J. A., et al. (2001). Predictors of suicidal ideation in a college population. In 154th annual meeting of the american psychiatric association, New Orleans, LA.
Weissman, A. N., & Beck, A. T. (1978). Development and validation of the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale: A preliminary investigation. Retrieved from https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED167619.
Acknowledgements
We would like to acknowledge the Jed Foundation and the Chirag Foundation for their support for this study.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Lee Baer—Deceased.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Farabaugh, A., Nyer, M.B., Holt, D.J. et al. CBT Delivered in a Specialized Depression Clinic for College Students with Depressive Symptoms. J Rat-Emo Cognitive-Behav Ther 37, 52–61 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10942-018-0300-z
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10942-018-0300-z