Psychology

The purpose of the study is to examine the role of readiness to change on the response displayed by adolescents when treating depression.  The purpose is developed from the literature review and aims to address observed developments in the management and treatment of adolescent depression.  The article states that the effect of readiness to change in management of adolescent depression has not been examine yet which implies that the study has also been developed with the aim of filling a gap in both practical depression management and existing knowledge.

Summary of the study
A sub-sample made up of teens from Treatment for Adolescents with Depression Study (TADS) was used in the study.  It is noteworthy that TADS used teenagers with depression and randomized control with different treatment effects notably fluoxetine, CBT a combination of CBT and fluoxetine and pill placebo.  Furthermore, TADS sought to determine the effects of the treatment effects on depressed adolescents.  The study used a sample made up of 332 TADS participants who meet two set requirements namely completion of change assessment and at least 12 weeks participation in the acute treatment stage in TADS.  It is noteworthy that an experimental design is used in the study since the sample is taken from a randomized study.  The analyses carried out in the study include factor analysis, validity analysis, predictor analysis and mediation analysis.  Quantitative data is used in the study and there is extensive use of statistical testing methodologies like significance testing, linear regression and principal component analysis.

Critical Analysis
Critique the methodology of the study
The methodology used in the study directly addresses the purpose of the study.  Another important observation is that a randomized sample of 332 participants is used.  The sample size in this case is significantly large and has been optimized for statistical tests.  This results in increased external validity and consistency of the results.   On the other hand, the participants in the study are basically got from a different study (TADS).  Use of such an approach to data collection may result in data that is necessarily accurate.  This is mainly because the current researchers do not have an accurate picture of the assumptions, errors and limitations of the first study (TADS).  This is a major undoing of the research methodology which could result in translation of biases and errors from the TADS study to the current study.

Do the conclusions of the study follow from the results
The conclusion that information regarding an adolescents readiness to change may allow tailoring of effective treatment before and during management of depression is developed from the results showing that action scores are a salient predictor of success in treatment.  It is therefore apparent that the conclusions developed in the study follow from the results.

Do they answer their question or hypothesis
A review of the purpose of the study and conclusion made shows that there is a linkage between them.  The conclusion that information relating to the readiness of an adolescent may help tailor effective depression treatment plan addresses the implicit research question what is the role of readiness in management of depression among adolescents

Confounding variables
Severity of depression and causative factors vary and may have significant effect on what entails a suitable management plan.  These variables may affect internal validity and should have been controlled in the study.  This is an aspect that the researchers fail to mention as limitations of the study though it is clearly significant on the validity of the results.

Control groups
Numerous control groups have been used in the study to determine the interaction between the test variables.  Change in mediator, controlling for site, controlling change in the Action scores and controlling changes in stages of questionnaire action scale relative to time are some of the control mechanisms included in the study.

Reliability and Validity issues
The study analyses validity though it is apparent that the existence of non-controlled confounding variables may significantly affect the results.  Use of controlled randomized sample increases the degree of representation of the population by the sample which improves reliability of the results.  Use of quantiative statistical analysis reduces biases which may have minimized the reliability of the results.

Relevance of the study
The study has been formulated to fill a gap in knowledge relating to management of depression in adolescent.  By highlighting the potential effects of readiness to change on treatment of depression, the researchers have filled a gap in the existing knowledge and developed a platform for further research on the same issue.  The study is relevant to practical management of depression for it develops predictors for instance action scores that can be used in monitoring the efficiency of a management plan.  This helps improve management of depression among adolescents.