EFFECT OF COGNITIVE BEHAVIOURAL THERAPY STRATEGY IN REDUCING DEPRESSION

Abstract

This study investigated the effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy as a strategy in reducing depression among secondary school students in Edo South Senatorial District. Specifically, the study sought to examine the extent to which CBT interaction can be used to curb depression to the minimum level among students in secondary school.  To guide this study, four research questions were raised and their corresponding hypotheses were formulated. The research questions were answered while the hypotheses were tested at 0.05 alpha level of significance. Two research designs were used for the study. First was the descriptive survey, which was used to collect the baseline data. The second design was a pre-test post-test non-equivalent control group quasi experimental design used for the study. The population of this study consisted of public mixed Senior Secondary II students in Edo South Senatorial District with counsellors, and the sample used comprised 93 students with high level of depression discovered with the use of the instrument collected of the baseline data. The instrument used for data collection was a questionnaire titled Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), validated by three experts, with reliability index of 0.79. During treatment procedures, the two groups were pretested, the experimental group was exposed to Cognitive behavioural therapy while the control group was not exposed to any treatment and after treatment administration, both groups were post tested and the finding, among others, showed that there is a significant difference in the level of depression among students in the experimental group (those exposed to CBT) and the control groups, after treatment among the students in Edo South Senatorial District there was a great decrease in the depression level of the experimental group as a result of the treatment administered. Based on the findings therefore, it is most recommended that guidance counsellors should employ cognitive behavioural therapy in the treatment of depression to enable students to achieve their maximum potential in life.

KEYWORDS: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Depression, Experimental Group, Control group and Guidance Counsellors.