The Effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Depression in Iranian University Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Depression is a common mental health problem among university students globally, but access to evidence-based treatments is often limited in developing countries. This study evaluates the effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for depression among Iranian university students. A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 80 students meeting the criteria for major depressive disorder. Participants were randomly assigned to either a 12-week CBT intervention group or a waitlist control group. Depression severity was measured using the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) at baseline, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up. The results showed that the CBT group experienced a significantly greater reduction in depressive symptoms compared to the control group, both at post-intervention and follow-up. The effect size was large (Cohen's d = 1.2). The study also found that improvements were maintained at the 3-month follow-up, suggesting lasting benefits. The paper concludes that CBT is an effective treatment for depression in Iranian university students and recommends that university counseling centers be equipped to provide this intervention. It also suggests that culturally adapted CBT protocols be developed and evaluated.