Conference presentation
Early intervention in a school setting: The effectiveness of brief acceptance and commitment therapy
USC Research Conference, 2013 (Sunshine Coast, Australia, 01-Jul-2013–05-Jul-2013)
University of the Sunshine Coast
2013
Abstract
Early signs of psychological distress in adolescents have been linked to elevated risk of later depression and anxiety. Currently a minority of young people with mental health concerns access clinical services, with the majority of mental health support being provided through non specialist, early intervention services, particularly schools. However, there is limited research into the effectiveness of early intervention programs delivered in school settings. There is emerging evidence that using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) as an early intervention treatment approach is effective in mental health settings; however, there is no research examining this within an adolescent population. The aim of this study is to establish the effectiveness of two school-based, youth-worker delivered interventions for young people showing early psychological distress. The study has been designed as a randomised controlled trial comparing ACT with standard youth worker practice, with an 8-week follow-up period. It is expected that 40 young people aged 12-18 who display early signs of depression or anxiety will participate in a four-week individual support program. Half will engage in a manualised program based on ACT and the other half will be supported through a Department of Communities funded school-based youth work program. It is hypothesised that both programs will be significantly effective treatment options for young people with sub-clinical anxiety and depression. It is also hypothesised that young people who participate in the ACT program will show greater reductions in their symptoms than those in the youth work program. It is intended that this study will provide evidence for the effectiveness of ACT as an early intervention program that can be successfully delivered in a school setting by nonspecialist youth workers. Further, the study will be able to expand the limited body of research investigating ACT as a treatment option with young people experiencing psychological distress.
Details
- Title
- Early intervention in a school setting: The effectiveness of brief acceptance and commitment therapy
- Authors
- Christina Birch (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Arts and Business
- Conference details
- USC Research Conference, 2013 (Sunshine Coast, Australia, 01-Jul-2013–05-Jul-2013)
- Publisher
- University of the Sunshine Coast
- Date published
- 2013
- Copyright note
- Copyright © 2013 the author. Reproduced with the permission of the author.
- Organisation Unit
- School of Social Sciences - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99447763602621
- Output Type
- Conference presentation
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