Effect of "coping with stress program" to depression and anxiety symptoms and brain functions in adolescent at high-risk for depression

Objective: The primary aim of this research is to determine the effect of coping with stress program on adolescents' depression and anxiety symptoms, which is applied to adolescents with high risk for depression. The second aim is to examine the changes in brain functions of adolescents participating in the coping with stress program. Method: Randomized controlled experimental research design was used in this study. The first year high school students were screened for depressive symptoms and adolescents with high levels of depressive symptoms and volunteering to participate in the study were randomly assigned to the intervention (n = 28) and control group (n = 29). Data were collected with Children Depression Inventory, Epidemiological Research Center Depression Scale, Beck Anxiety Scale and functional magnetic resonance imaging. The data were collected before the Coping with Stress Program, after the program, 3 months and 6 months. Chi-square and MANCOVA were used for data analysis. The data obtained from fMRI images were analyzed by using Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM) using general linear model. Results: As a result of this study, it was found that there was a statistically significant decrease in the post-test, third and sixth month total scores of the Children Depression Inventory of the intervention group compared to the control group. There was no significant difference between the groups in the total scores of the central depression scale of epidemiological studies. While there was no statistically significant difference between the post-test total scores of the intervention group and the control group's Beck Anxiety Scale, the total scores in the third and sixth months were significantly lower in the intervention group. Conclusion: As a result of this study, it can be said that coping with stress program decreases depressive symptoms and anxiety levels of adolescents with high levels of depressive symptoms. It is recommended that the program be implemented regularly in schools.