Skip to Content
NREPP SAMHSA'S National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices
IMPORTANT LEGACY NOTICE: Legacy Programs have not been reviewed by the current National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP). The programs in this database were reviewed only under the previous National Registry of Effective Prevention Programs system. This section is intended to be used for historical reference only. If you would like more information about a program listed here, please contact the program developer directly. The program developer of each Legacy Program listed here agreed to post program information on this site.

Coping With Stress Course

Brief Program Description

The Coping With Stress Course is a targeted prevention program for ninth- and tenth-grade adolescents at increased risk for depression. The program targets youth who have elevated self-reported depressive symptoms. The goal of the course is to teach youth new coping strategies that provide resistance against the development of later affective disorder. The course attempts to change overly negative/irrational thinking patterns before they reach clinical significance by teaching cognitive restructuring skills.

The Coping With Stress Course consists of 15 45-minute group sessions in which at-risk adolescents are taught cognitive techniques to identify and challenge negative or irrational thoughts that may contribute to the development of future affective disorder. Cartoons, role-plays, and group discussions are oriented to the developmental level of the participants. Youth learn skills to combat negative cognitions, stressful events, and predisposing risk factors. The intervention is offered after regular school classes on the school grounds three times per week for 5 weeks.

In the year following the intervention, fewer cases of affective disorder (unipolar depression and dysthymia) were observed in the Coping With Stress group compared with a control group.

Contact Information

For indepth information on this program, please use the contact listed below.

Program Developer

Gregory Clarke, Ph.D.
Kaiser Permanente
Center for Health Research
3800 North Interstate Avenue
Portland, OR 97227
Email: greg.clarke@kpchr.org
Website: www.kpchr.org/public/acwd/acwd.html

In November 2004, this program was designated as a Promising Program under SAMHSA's previous National Registry of Effective Prevention Programs system.