COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY AS A THERAPEUTIC APPROACH FOR ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH: A PRE-TEST/POST-TEST STUDY

Background: Adolescence is a critical developmental phase marked by increased vulnerability to mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has emerged as a leading psychotherapeutic intervention for addressing psychological distress in this age group.This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of CBT in improving mental health outcomes among adolescents.Methods: A pre-experimental, pre-test/post-test research design was employed involving 30 adolescents aged 12-17 years exhibiting mild to moderate symptoms of depression and anxiety.Participants underwent eight weekly CBT sessions, and assessments were conducted before and after the intervention using standardized tools: the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and the Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS).Data were analyzed using paired sample t-tests and effect size calculations.Results: Statistically significant reductions were observed in both depression (t = 6.21, p < 0.001) and anxiety scores (t = 5.74, p < 0.001).Large effect sizes were noted (Cohen's d = 1.15 for depression, 1.08 for anxiety), indicating substantial clinical Inaara Danny Keswani https://iaeme.com/