A pilot study by the University of Michigan suggests that young people with emotional problems could benefit from "talk therapy" in a school setting.

The researchers provided individual therapy to 45 students, and group therapy to 60 others. The sessions took place at two middle schools and one high school in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, Michigan. Using standardized measuring tools, the researchers found that the students who underwent therapy learned to recognize and partly overcome mild depression, anxiety and anger problems. By the end of the study, students reported fewer angry feelings toward their teachers and improvements in problem-solving ability. The depressed students experienced elevated mood levels and better cognitive skills.

"Many studies have shown that cognitive behavioral therapy can help young people with mood and anger issues, but this is the first time that an adapted form of this evidence-based therapy has been shown to work in a school setting," said author David Neal, an assistant professor at the University of Michigan Medical School's Department of Psychiatry.

Other studies found that teenagers will not seek out therapy in community centers, even if their teachers or doctors refer them.

Neal and others presented the findings at April 12, 2007 Conference of the Society for Social Work and Research.

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Labels: depression, schools, therapy