Cognitive Behavioral Counseling for Depression in Orphans and Vulnerable Children: In Case of Dire Dawa Full Gospel Believers' Child Support Organization, Ethiopia

Abstract

This study was aimed at examining effects of Cognitive Behavioral Counseling in treatment of depression among Orphan and Vulnerable Children. A quiz randomized experimental design; in which 53 eligible Children carefully selected and randomly assigned to either group was employed in this study. Children in treatment group attended six; three hour's weekly Cognitive-Behavioral Counseling sessions. While, children in placebo-control group participated in six-one hour weekly informal group discussions. They had never given formal counseling before completion of data collection. From both groups a total of 44 children (19 males and 25 females) aged between 11-18 years with mean of 15.05 and 1.843 standard deviation were successfully completed the study. Depression severity scores were assessed before and after the treatment program through Children's Depression Inventory. Within group pre-to-post treatment analysis of dependent t-tests revealed higher symptomatic depression mean score reduction in treatment group compared to placebo control group. Between groups symptomatic Depression mean scores difference was statistically insignificant before the treatment (t= .18, df= 42, p>.05, two tailed). Posttest analysis of independent t-test showed statistically significant depression mean scores difference between the groups (t= -2.24, df =42, p<.05, one tailed). Post intervention between groups effect size was found moderate (0.68). Cognitive behavioral counseling is potentially effective to treat depression in Children as compared to placebo treatment. However, further studies are needed to validate reliability of findings in this study.