Gestalt treatment of adolescent females with depressive symptoms: A treatment outcome study

This investigation examined the effects of short-term Gestalt therapy group intervention on self-reported depression in high school female students. Participants were selected from approximately 500 10th-12th grade female students at a rural high school. Eligible individuals were identified through a multi-stage process using the Reynolds' Adolescent Depression Inventory (RADS). After screening, participants were randomly assigned to either a Gestalt therapy group condition or wait-list control group. Both groups were administered the RADS pre-treatment. Upon conclusion of the group and wait-list control condition, all participants were re-administered the RADS. The experimental group also received the Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale (RCMAS) and the Piers Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale (PHCSS). The wait-fist control group was offered treatment subsequent to the group condition. This group was also given the RCMAS and the PHCSS before and after treatment. Pre- and post-test differences in RADS, RCMAS, and PHCSS were examined for all groups. The researcher hypothesized that all participants receiving the Gestalt group treatment intervention would have significantly lower post-test versus pre-test scores on the RADS and RCMAS, and significantly higher post-test versus pre-test scores on the PHCSS. Additionally, the researcher hypothesized that the experimental treatment groups would demonstrate fewer depressive symptoms following the Gestalt group intervention than the wait-list control group. Participants in the first treatment groups were also given a follow-up assessment five weeks after treatment completion. It was further hypothesized that the treatment group would maintain significantly lower levels of depressive symptoms. All hypotheses were supported. Significant differences were found between the pre- and post-test scores for all treatment groups on all measures. Following treatment, participants demonstrated significantly lower scores on the RADS and RCMAS, and significantly higher scores on the PHCSS. Significant differences were also found between the experimental and control groups at the post-assessment for depressive symptoms, as measured by the RADS. No significant differences were found between the 5 week follow-up scores and the post-test scores on the RADS for the experimental group, suggesting treatment effects were maintained at follow-up. The results are discussed in terms of study findings, methodological concerns and implications for future practice and research.