Onderzoek naar de effectiviteit van het educatief programma ‘Pak van mijn Hart’ bij kinderen met depressieve symptomen.

Cognitive behavioural therapy is the first choice in the treatment of depressive children. In this article the effectivity of the Flemish cognitive behavioural intervention 'Pak van mijn Hart' is investigated by a quasi-experimental design with an experimental (n=16), placebo (n=9) and control group (n=9). After the intervention the children report less depressive symptoms. However, groups did not differ in reported depressive symptoms and number of depressed children. Elements such as the inclusion of the participants, the intervention itself and the therapists could have lowered the effectivity of the program. Further research with an upgraded program, trained therapists and bigger groups is needed.