TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2018//
TI  - The effect of interpersonal counseling for subthreshold depression in undergraduates: an exploratory randomized controlled trial
JO  - Depression research and treatment
A1  - Yamamoto, Ami
A1  - Tsujimoto, Emi
A1  - Taketani, Reiko
A1  - Tsujii, Noa
A1  - Shirakawa, Osamu
A1  - Ono, Hisae
SP  - e4201897
EP  - e4201897
VL  - 2018
IS  - 
N2  - BACKGROUND: Subthreshold depression and poor stress coping strategies are major public health problems among undergraduates. Interpersonal counseling (IPC) is a brief structured psychological intervention originally designed for use in primary care to treat depressive patients whose symptoms arose from current life stress. <br><br>OBJECTIVES: This study examined the efficacy of IPC in treating subthreshold depression and coping strategies among undergraduates in school counseling. <br><br>MATERIALS AND METHODS: We carried out an exploratory randomized controlled trial comparing the efficacy of IPC with counseling as usual (CAU). Participants were 31 undergraduates exhibiting depression without a psychiatric diagnosis. <br><br>RESULTS: The Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale total score decreased significantly in the IPC group (<i>n</i> = 15; <i>Z</i> = -2.675, <i>p</i> =.007), but not in the CAU group (<i>n</i> = 16). The task-oriented coping score of the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations showed a tendency towards a greater increase in the IPC group than in the CAU group (<i>t</i> = 1.919, df = 29, <i>p</i> =.065). <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: The IPC might be more useful for student counseling because it can teach realistic coping methods and reduce depressive symptoms in a short period. Further studies using more participants are required.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 2090-1321
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/4201897
ID  - ref1
ER  -