A bicultural randomised control trial of depression prevention was carried out under Health Research Council funding between 1999 and 2003.

Research Team: Dr S Merry, Dr H McDowell, N Muller, C Wild, J Bir.

Publication
2004 Merry SN, McDowell H, Wild CJ, Bir J and Cunliffe R. A randomized placebo controlled trial of a school-based depression prevention program. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. 43(5) 538-547. 2004.

Conference Presentations:

2003 Faculty of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Royal College of Psychiatrists. York.  England. “School based depression prevention – a randomized controlled trial.” Merry SN, McDowell H, Wild C, Bir J Cunliffe R.

Click here to download the RAP Kiwi Poster (405Kb)

2003 CAMHS conference. “The Effectiveness of a School-Based Bi-cultural Depression Prevention Programme.” Bir J,  Wharemate R, Merry S,  McDowell H, Wild C and Cunliffe R.

2002 McDowell,H.; McPherson, N.; Merry, S.; Wild, C.; Bir, J.; Cunliffe, R.; Wharemate, D. & Dutt,V.  Cross-cultural use of RAP-Kiwi (Resourceful Adolescent Programme New Zealand).  Poster session.  Third International Conference on Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Brisbane, Australia

2001 McDowell,H; Merry,S; McPherson,N; Wild,C.; Bir,J & Wills,L. Preventing depression: the effectiveness of a school-based CBT programme. New Zealand Psychological Society Conference, Auckland

2001 Joint American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and RANZCP Child and Adolescent Faculty Conference. “Effectiveness Of Universal School-Based Depression Prevention”   Merry, S. N., McDowell, H.,  Wild, C.J., Muller, N.,  Bir, J.  in symposium “Preventing Depression in Adolescents: Cognitive Behavioral Approaches” Gilham, J.E., Clarke, G.N., Hamilton, J.D., Merry, S.N. & Spence, S.H.

This was carried out between 2001-2003 and is being updated in 2006.

Research team: Dr S Merry, S Hetrick, Dr H McDowell, JBir»

Publication
2004 Merry SN, Hetrick S, McDowell H and Bir J.  The effectiveness of psychological and/or educational interventions for the prevention of depression in children and adolescents. The Cochrane Library. Issue 1, 2004.
http://www.cochrane.org/cochrane/revabstr/AB003380.htm

Conference Presentations
2006 17th  Congress for the International Association for Child Psychiatrists and Allied Professionals. Merry S. “Depression prevention programmes: a meta-analysis”  in symposium on “Early Intervention: School based programs for Mental Health”. Symposium coordinated by N Kawalenko.

2003 International Society for Research in Child and Adolescent Psychopathology.  11th Scientific Meeting, Sydney, Australia.  “Depression Prevention Programmes – a meta-analysis.”  Merry S, Hetrick S, McDowell H and Bir J in a Symposium on “Prevention and early intervention in adolescent depression: school-based approaches—the lessons we have learned”. Jean Sheffield J, Patton G, Shochet I, Burns J, Sawyer M, Spence S, Glover S,  Rapee R, Merry S.

2002 Faculty of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Conference RANZCP. Merry, S.N., Hetrick,S, Bir, J. and McDowell, H. “Effectiveness of depression prevention – a meta-analysis”
 
Studies underway


There are four studies underway investigating interventions for depression in teenagers

A meta-analysis of specific serotonin re-uptake inhibitors for depression in children and adolescents.

Research team:  Hetrick, S. Proctor, M. Merry, S. Sindahl, P. Ward,

Publication
2005 Hetrick, S. Proctor, M. Merry, S. Sindahl, P. Ward, A. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for depression in children and adolescents. [Protocol] Cochrane Depression, Anxiety and Neurosis Group Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 3, 2005.

The role of mobile phone technology in delivery interventions. 

Research team: Dr A Rodgers and Dr S Merry
Supported by the Oakley Mental Health Foundation

Further application for funding is underway.

Computerised delivery of cognitive behavioural therapy for adolescents. (PhD thesis)

Research team: K Stasiak, Dr S Merry, Dr S Hatcher and Dr I Doherty
Supported by the Oakley Mental Health Foundation.

The role of school guidance counsellors in the management of teenage depression (PhD thesis)

Research team: B Bulkeley, Dr S Hatcher, Dr S Merry and Dr H McDowell