J Pediatr Psychol. 2025 Aug 6:jsaf049. doi: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsaf049. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Depression is prevalent, impairing, and detrimental to health. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the efficacy of psychological interventions for decreasing symptoms of depression among young people with long-term physical health conditions.
METHODS: CENTRAL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, PubMed, clinicaltrials.gov, and WHO ICTRIP were searched through July 1, 2023. Selection criteria were randomized controlled trials of psychological interventions targeting depression symptoms among people ≤29 years diagnosed with long-term physical health conditions. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane RoB version 2 tool. Outcome data were analyzed using fixed-effects models. Pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) between experimental and control was calculated using an inverse variance approach with a linear model. Heterogeneity was assessed by χ2 test on Cochran’s Q statistic and quantified with I2 statistic.
RESULTS: Results included six trials (N = 376) of 11- to 18-year-olds (Mfemale=80%), recruited from pediatric clinics in the United States. Two of six eligible studies had an inclusion criterion related to elevated depression symptoms; the remainder included youth with heterogeneous depression levels. Psychological interventions were more efficacious than controls for reducing depression symptoms and functional disability. Pooled SMD for depression symptoms was -.30 (-.51, -.10), with a significant overall effect (Z = 2.92, p = .004). Pooled SMD for functional disability was -.35 (-.66, -.05), with a significant overall effect (Z = 2.28, p = .02). Moderate study heterogeneity was noted in two study outcomes.
CONCLUSIONS: Psychological interventions reduce depression symptoms and functional disability among youth with long-term physical health conditions. Research is needed to elucidate participant/trial characteristics contributing to outcomes.
PMID:40795045 | DOI:10.1093/jpepsy/jsaf049
