Effect of Non-Pharmacological Interventions in Depression and Anxiety in Children and Adolescents MA
Other Titles
Non-Pharmacological Interventions on Depression and Anxiety in Children and Adolescents: Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials [Poster Title]
Abstract
Objectives: Research has shown that non-pharmacological interventions can effectively reduce anxiety and depression in children and adolescents; however, there remains a lack of agreement on this topic. This review aims to assess the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions (NPIs) in alleviating depression and anxiety in children and adolescents when compared to control groups.
Methods: A comprehensive search of electronic databases, including PubMed, PsycINFO, OVID, ProQuest, EBSCO host, and Cochrane, was conducted for studies published from 2009 to May 2023. Studies that employed non-pharmacological interventions to evaluate their impact on anxiety and depression in children and adolescents were included.
Results: Out of 3,680 study records screened, 15 studies (32 arms, 6,851 participants) met the inclusion criteria for the final analysis. The pooled analysis indicated a statistically significant difference between NPIs and control groups regarding depression (standardized mean difference [SMD] -0.15, 95% CI -0.27, -0.03; p=0.01, I2=74%) and anxiety (SMD -0.48, 95% CI -0.76, -0.20; p=0.0007, I2=77%). Subgroup analyses showed a significant difference in depression outcomes for adolescents, while NPIs notably improved anxiety in children. However, NPIs did not yield significant improvements in depression among children.
Conclusions: This review underscores the positive impact of NPIs on reducing anxiety and depression in adolescents and children. Future research on NPI interventions should focus on long-term effects and well-structured methodologies to establish definitive conclusions regarding depression in children. Clinicians and practitioners should interpret these findings with caution, considering the methodological limitations present in the studies.
Study registration: The proposal has been registered with The International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO 2023) CRD42023390189.
Notes
References:
1. Barry MM, Clarke AM, Jenkins R, Patel V. A systematic review of the effectiveness of mental health promotion interventions for young people in low and middle income countries. BMC Public Health 2013;13(1):835.
2. Bor W, Dean AJ, Najman J, Hayatbakhsh R. Are child and adolescent mental health problems increasing in the 21st century? A systematic review. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 2014;48(7):606–16.
3. James AC, Reardon T, Soler A, James G, Creswell C. Cognitive behavioural therapy for anxiety disorders in children and adolescents. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2020;2020(11):CD013162.
4. Lund C, Brooke-Sumner C, Baingana F, Baron EC, Breuer E, Chandra P, et al. Social determinants of mental disorders and the Sustainable Development Goals: a systematic review of reviews. The Lancet Psychiatry 2018;5(4):357–69.
5. Merikangas KR, Nakamura EF, Kessler RC. Epidemiology of mental disorders in children and adolescents. Dialogues Clin Neurosci 2009;11(1):7–20.
6. James-Palmer A, Anderson EZ, Zucker L, Kofman Y, Daneault JF. Yoga as an Intervention for the Reduction of Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review. Front. Pediatr.2020;8:78.
7. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders [Internet]. 5th ed., t. 2022. Available from: https://dsm.psychiatryonline.org/doi/book/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787
Sigma Membership
Chi Delta
Type
Poster
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Meta-Analysis/Synthesis
Research Approach
Quantitative Research
Keywords:
Public and Community Health, Policy and Advocacy, Non-pharmacological Interventions, Anxiety, Depression, Children and Adolescents
Recommended Citation
Kumar, Rajesh; Sahu, Maya; Beniwal, Kalpana; Bahurupi, Yogesh; and Das, Anindya, "Effect of Non-Pharmacological Interventions in Depression and Anxiety in Children and Adolescents MA" (2025). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 78.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2025/posters_2025/78
Conference Name
36th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Seattle, Washington, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Effect of Non-Pharmacological Interventions in Depression and Anxiety in Children and Adolescents MA
Seattle, Washington, USA
Objectives: Research has shown that non-pharmacological interventions can effectively reduce anxiety and depression in children and adolescents; however, there remains a lack of agreement on this topic. This review aims to assess the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions (NPIs) in alleviating depression and anxiety in children and adolescents when compared to control groups.
Methods: A comprehensive search of electronic databases, including PubMed, PsycINFO, OVID, ProQuest, EBSCO host, and Cochrane, was conducted for studies published from 2009 to May 2023. Studies that employed non-pharmacological interventions to evaluate their impact on anxiety and depression in children and adolescents were included.
Results: Out of 3,680 study records screened, 15 studies (32 arms, 6,851 participants) met the inclusion criteria for the final analysis. The pooled analysis indicated a statistically significant difference between NPIs and control groups regarding depression (standardized mean difference [SMD] -0.15, 95% CI -0.27, -0.03; p=0.01, I2=74%) and anxiety (SMD -0.48, 95% CI -0.76, -0.20; p=0.0007, I2=77%). Subgroup analyses showed a significant difference in depression outcomes for adolescents, while NPIs notably improved anxiety in children. However, NPIs did not yield significant improvements in depression among children.
Conclusions: This review underscores the positive impact of NPIs on reducing anxiety and depression in adolescents and children. Future research on NPI interventions should focus on long-term effects and well-structured methodologies to establish definitive conclusions regarding depression in children. Clinicians and practitioners should interpret these findings with caution, considering the methodological limitations present in the studies.
Study registration: The proposal has been registered with The International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO 2023) CRD42023390189.
Description
This meta-analysis demonstrates that using NPIs is beneficial, purportedly with lesser side effects and more cost-effectiveness in children and adolescents. Further, large-scale RCTs with more homogenous, uniform, and standardized NPIs are needed to study their long-term impact.