How Effective Is a Computerised Self-Help Programme (SPARX) for Māori Adolescents Seeking Help for Depression?
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Abstract
Background: Depression is a major health issue amongst indigenous adolescents. In New Zealand, Māori adolescents, particularly females, report high rates of depressive symptoms and yet there has been little investigation of the effectiveness of psychological treatments among indigenous youth. This research is a part of a larger randomised controlled study, in which a Computerised Cognitive Behavioural Therapy programme (CCBT)-SPARX was designed and evaluated for the general New Zealand adolescent population.
Objective: To test whether SPARX was as effective as treatment as usual (TAU) for Māori adolescents with mild to moderate depression.
Methods: The study was an assessor-blinded RCT that examined the equivalence of SPARX with TAU. Eligible participants were randomised to receive SPARX or TAU in a 1:1 ratio. Participants were assessed at three time points (baseline, two month post-intervention and at three month follow up), using the primary measure Child Depression Rating Scale-Revised (CDRS-R) and secondary outcome measures of quality of life and anxiety. Satisfaction surveys were conducted at post intervention and at month three follow-up. The control group for the RCT received treatment as usual (TAU). This was defined as the usual management of adolescents with mild to moderate depression at the study site. Clinicians were asked to describe the treatment they had provided to TAU-assigned participants.
Results: Initial gains at post intervention on the CDRS-R (SPARX (N=24), -5.13, TAU (N=21) -6.87) were maintained at five month follow up, (SPARX (N=24), -5.50, TAU (N=21) -5.40), and showed that for this cohort SPARX was as effective as treatment as usual.
Conclusions: These results suggest SPARX is an effective treatment for Māori adolescents with symptoms of mild to moderate depression.
Objective: To test whether SPARX was as effective as treatment as usual (TAU) for Māori adolescents with mild to moderate depression.
Methods: The study was an assessor-blinded RCT that examined the equivalence of SPARX with TAU. Eligible participants were randomised to receive SPARX or TAU in a 1:1 ratio. Participants were assessed at three time points (baseline, two month post-intervention and at three month follow up), using the primary measure Child Depression Rating Scale-Revised (CDRS-R) and secondary outcome measures of quality of life and anxiety. Satisfaction surveys were conducted at post intervention and at month three follow-up. The control group for the RCT received treatment as usual (TAU). This was defined as the usual management of adolescents with mild to moderate depression at the study site. Clinicians were asked to describe the treatment they had provided to TAU-assigned participants.
Results: Initial gains at post intervention on the CDRS-R (SPARX (N=24), -5.13, TAU (N=21) -6.87) were maintained at five month follow up, (SPARX (N=24), -5.50, TAU (N=21) -5.40), and showed that for this cohort SPARX was as effective as treatment as usual.
Conclusions: These results suggest SPARX is an effective treatment for Māori adolescents with symptoms of mild to moderate depression.
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