Melissa D. Pinto|Ronald L. Hickman|John M. Clochesy|Marc Buchner
Avatar-based depression self-management technology: promising approach to improve depressive symptoms among young adults
major depressive disorder prevalent among american young adults predisposes young adults serious impairments psychosocial functioning without intervention young adults depressive symptoms high risk worsening depressive symptoms developing major depressive disorder young adults routinely taught effective depression self management skills reduce depressive symptoms preempt future illness study reports initial results randomized controlled trial among young adults 1825 years age depressive symptoms exposed avatarbased depression selfmanagement intervention esmartmh participants completed selfreport measures depressive symptoms baseline 4 8 12 weeks followup participants received esmartmh significant reduction depressive symptoms 3 months individuals attentioncontrol condition change symptoms study esmartmh demonstrated initial efficacy promising developmentally appropriate depression selfmanagement intervention young adults