Effects of a brief ED-based alcohol and violence intervention on depressive symptoms

Objective Depressive symptoms frequently co-exist in adolescents with alcohol use and peer violence. This paper's purpose was to examine the secondary effects of a brief alcohol-and-violence-focused ED intervention on depressive symptoms. Method Adolescents (ages 14–18) presenting to an ED for any reason, reporting past year alcohol use and aggression, were enrolled in a randomized control trial (control, therapist-delivered brief intervention [TBI], or computer-delivered brief intervention [CBI]). Depressive symptoms were measured at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months using a modified 10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CESD-10). Poisson regression was used (adjusting for baseline age, gender, and depressive symptoms) to compare depressive symptoms at follow-up. Results Among 659 participants, higher baseline depressive symptoms, female gender, and age ≥ 16 were associated with higher depressive symptoms over time. At 3 months, CBI and TBI groups had significantly lower CESD-10 scores than the control group; at 6 months, intervention and control groups did not differ; at 12 months, only CBI had a significantly lower CESD-10 score than control. Conclusions A single-session brief ED-based intervention focused on alcohol use and violence also reduces depressive symptoms among at-risk youth. Findings also point to the potential efficacy of using technology in future depression interventions.