Deschutes Research, Inc.

Training for Treatment of Adolescent Depression

The overall aim of this project is to develop an interactive computer-based program designed to train mental health professionals in the use of an established cognitive-behavioral program for the treatment of adolescent depression. The training is self-paced and utilizes the manual "The Adolescent Coping with Depression Course" (CWD-A: Clarke, Lewinsohn & Hops, 1900.)

Dr. Paul Rohde and his colleague Jenel Jorgensen, both of the Oregon Research Institute, have a combined 35 years of experience in developing, providing, revising, and training others to provide the CWD-A intervention. The TTAD program DRI is developing will allow mental health professionals the convenience of obtaining the training utilizing an interactive computer-based program.

In Phase I of the TTAD project we developed the prototype of the training DVD, which presented three out of the nine core CWD-A course elements. The prototype was evaluated and enhanced for Phase II.

Phase II of this interactive computer-based project includes all nine of the CWD-A core course elements, and utilizes video vignettes of "typically depressed teenagers", as well as written text and narration to illustrate the course elements. The project will also create a companion Web site for the program which will offer on-line registration for continuing education (CE) credit, self tests, access to current research, and FAQ (frequently asked questions) content provided by a CWD-A expert.

The CWD-A course has been empirically validated and adapted for a variety of formats (e.g., group, individual) and treatment settings (mental health facilities, schools, juvenile corrections). For a free download of just the written manual, please go to: http://www.kpchr.org/public/acwd/acwd.html