Comparison of the efficacy of problem solving therapy in terms of individual therapy and group therapy format

Depression is one of the most common psychopathologies seen in adolescence. Since the risk of recurrence and exacerbation is high, it can turn into a health problem that extends into adulthood. For this reason, early treatment could be important. Although the efficacy of problem-solving therapy (PST) in the treatment of depression has been studied many times in adult samples, the number of studies with depressed adolescents is limited. In this study, the efficacy of PST applied in individual and group formats in the treatment of depressive symptoms in adolescents was evaluated. With this purpose in mind 41 high school students were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: individual PST (N = 13), group PST (N = 14), and waiting list (N = 14). Measurements were taken at three time points: before, after and 3 months after the intervention. In addition to the effect of PST on depressive symptoms, its effects on perceived stress levels, problem-solving skills, cognitive flexibility, dysfunctional attitudes and perceived social support were also examined. As a result, it was found that the depressive symptoms of both individual and group PST conditions were statistically significantly reduced compared to the waiting list condition. The decrease in depressive symptoms were similar for both intervention groups (individual PST and group PST). There was no statistically significant difference between the pretest and posttest measurements for the other variables. As a result, it can be said that PST, regardless of the application format (individual or group psychotherapy), can be an effective psychotherapy method in reducing depressive symptoms in adolescence.