EVIDENCE BASED STRATEGIES AND INTERVENTIONS FOR PREVENTING DEPRESSION
METHODS: A comprehensive literature search and review of articles on effective strategies and evidence-based interventions for preventing depression was done.
RESULTS: A recent Cochrane Review (2013) of 55 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on psychological and educational depression prevention programs found that both universal and targeted programs reduced depressive symptoms. One six-year RCT on school-based programs for children of divorced parents revealed 11% of adolescents in experimental group had depression compared with 23.5% in control group. Another large RCT found that Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) was more effective than maintenance pharmacotherapy in reducing depression and that, 75% in the MBCT Group discontinued antidepressants. The job search (JOBS) programs, tested and replicated in large randomized trials showed increased job search self-efficacy and reduced depression. A Study on 1,046 women found that a “traditional diet” was associated with lower odds for major depression in contrast to "western diet”. A Cochrane Review (2012) showed beneficial effects of child obesity prevention programs. Such results could easily be accepted as obesity and depression share a bidirectional relationship. Rapidly developing evidence on the subject suggests that mental, physical illnesses and lifestyle form a triad. Given success of prevention strategies in reducing cardiovascular diseases, mental diseases should be the next target
CONCLUSIONS: Depression prevention strategies have progressed to evidence-supported and cost-effective interventions. These can be disseminated globally to help millions of people suffering from depression.