Adolescents’ experiences of brief psychosocial intervention for depression: An interpretative phenomenological analysis of good-outcome cases

Abstract

Background: Brief psychosocial intervention (BPI) is a treatment for adolescent depression that has recently demonstrated clinical effectiveness in a controlled trial. The aim of this study is to explore experiences of adolescents with major depression receiving BPI treatment in the context of good treatment outcomes. Method: A subsample of five interviews from a larger study of adolescents’ experiences of BPI was purposively selected, focusing on good-outcome cases. Interviews were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis to provide a richer understanding of participants’ experiences of overcoming depression in the BPI group. Results: Four central themes were identified: ‘Being heard and feeling safe’, ‘Collaborative working enhancing therapy’, ‘Gaining a different perspective on one’s self and relationships’ and ‘A positive therapeutic relationship’. Conclusion: BPI is a novel approach with promising clinical effectiveness. Utilising adolescents’ experiences has revealed potential psychological mechanisms of good treatment response to BPI. Overall implications for clinical practice with depressed adolescents are discussed.