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DISCOVER, a brief CBT-based self-referral workshop, improves depression and anxiety outcomes in adolescents with clinical-level depression at 12 and 18 months follow-up.

In a secondary analysis of the BESST cluster RCT, adolescents with clinical-level depression who received DISCOVER had significantly higher odds of achieving normal-range symptoms at 12 months (RRR=3.12, 95% CI: 1.48-15.97, p=0.006) and 18 months (RRR=2.63, 95% CI: 1.11-6.24, p=0.029) compared to treatment-as-usual. Small-to-moderate effects were maintained for depression (d=0.44 at 12 months, d=0.30 at 18 months) and anxiety (d=0.38 at 12 months, d=0.30 at 18 months).

Last updated: Aug 26, 2026•1 RCTs•📖 Read as article →

Evidence Score

Evidence Score48/100
Human RCT★★☆☆☆
Meta-analysis☆☆☆☆☆
Mechanism★★★★★
Safety★★★★☆
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. Do all adolescents benefit equally from school-based mental health interventions? A subgroup analysis by depression severity at 12 and 18 months follow-up.

observational

Duagi D, Carter B, Lisk S, Brown JSL · Frontiers in psychiatry (2026)

Participants: N/A
Duration: 18 months
Intervention: DISCOVER, a brief CBT-based self-referral workshop for adolescents.
Outcome: Depression severity category transitions (clinical, subthreshold, normal), continuous depression, anxiety, wellbeing, sleep quality, resilience.
Effect Size: d=0.44 (depression at 12 months), d=0.30 (depression at 18 months), d=0.38 (anxiety at 12 months), d=0.30 (anxiety at 18 months)
Population: Adolescents with clinical-level depression at baseline (DISCOVER n=142, TAU n=172) from 900 adolescents in 57 UK schools.

Result:

PubMed: 42638922DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1826587

Mechanism Graph

Adolescents with clinical-level depression self-refer to DISCOVER workshop
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Workshop delivers brief CBT-based techniques
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Participants apply techniques to manage depressive and anxiety symptoms
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Result: Increased odds of achieving normal-range symptoms and sustained small-to-moderate improvements in depression and anxiety

Limitations

  • ⚠Exploratory secondary analysis, not pre-specified primary outcome
  • ⚠Subgroup analyses may be underpowered to detect smaller effects
  • ⚠Reliance on self-report measures (MFQ) for severity categorization

Frequently Asked Questions

What is DISCOVER?▼

DISCOVER is a brief CBT-based self-referral workshop for adolescents, delivered in schools, aimed at reducing depression and anxiety symptoms.

How effective is DISCOVER for adolescents with clinical depression?▼

DISCOVER significantly increased the odds of achieving normal-range symptoms at 12 and 18 months, with small-to-moderate effect sizes on depression and anxiety (d=0.30-0.44).

Does DISCOVER work for adolescents with subthreshold depression?▼

No significant benefits on depression were found for subthreshold adolescents, but there was a specific anxiety benefit at 12 months (d=0.34, p=0.004).

What are the long-term effects of DISCOVER?▼

Effects were maintained through 18 months, including through post-school transitions, for those with clinical-level depression.

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References

  1. 1.Duagi D, Carter B, Lisk S, Brown JSL. "Do all adolescents benefit equally from school-based mental health interventions? A subgroup analysis by depression severity at 12 and 18 months follow-up.." Frontiers in psychiatry, 2026. PMID: 42638922 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1826587
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.