<p><em>The DISA method is a universal program developed for teenage girls to prevent depression. The program includes cognitive behavioral techniques are suppose to change negative pattern of thinking, give practice of communication, strategies of problem solution and exercises to strengthen the social network. </em><em></em></p><p><em>The purpose of this study is to find out how a group of teenage boys were affected by the DISA program and what factors that may have impacted the outcome. Material from three different studies have been used, a quantitative study in terms of data from self-assessment form CES-D, materials from two semi-structured focus group interviews with the boys and material from a questionnaire filled out by the boys on two occasions during the DISA method.</em></p><p><em> </em><em>The result of the CES-D indicates that the boys had less depressive symptoms after the final group meeting compared to the first group meeting and also a year later. Analysis of the material from focus group interviews and questionnaire have been made from a communication theory and systems theory perspective and indicate a shift to greater cohesion in the group and demonstrates that communication between the boy-group and group leaders had importance for the outcome. In particular, this study demonstrates how important group values and norms where for the boys, especially with regard to communication of emotions</em><em>. </em><em></em></p>

The DISA method is a universal program developed for teenage girls to prevent depression. The program includes cognitive behavioral techniques are suppose to change negative pattern of thinking, give practice of communication, strategies of problem solution and exercises to strengthen the social network. The purpose of this study is to find out how a group of teenage boys were affected by the DISA program and what factors that may have impacted the outcome. Material from three different studies have been used, a quantitative study in terms of data from self-assessment form CES-D, materials from two semi-structured focus group interviews with the boys and material from a questionnaire filled out by the boys on two occasions during the DISA method.  The result of the CES-D indicates that the boys had less depressive symptoms after the final group meeting compared to the first group meeting and also a year later. Analysis of the material from focus group interviews and questionnaire have been made from a communication theory and systems theory perspective and indicate a shift to greater cohesion in the group and demonstrates that communication between the boy-group and group leaders had importance for the outcome. In particular, this study demonstrates how important group values and norms where for the boys, especially with regard to communication of emotions.

<p>Twice as many women as men suffer from mental ill-health. The negative trend of mental problems among teenagers continues. In certain places in Sweden, 40 per cent of the teenage girls have outspoken symptoms of depression. This is why it is important to observe mental ill-health in a public health perspective.</p><p> </p><p>One effect evaluation of the DISA method (Depression In Swedish Adolescents) drew the conclusion that this universal depression preventive method is well working. The DISA method includes cognitive behavioural techniques that change negative pattern of thinking, give practice of communication, strategies of problem solution plus exercises to strengthen the social network. The purpose, in current investigation, was to let the group leaders’ estimations of the carrying through and of future prospects of the method be the basis of the method development as the method can be more effective. Six persons, who recently had became group leaders of DISA in Västmanland, were selected as interviewees by structured selection. Qualitative interviews were completed. A manifest qualitative content analysis carried through on the transcriptions.</p><p> </p><p>Generally speaking, the interest of the method is great and there are bright prospects, according to the result of investigation. The basic education of DISA could however be experienced as heavy and intensive with a negative focus. The structured method material has an advanced language and a stereotyped gender perspective that influence the group meetings, which takes a lot of work and time. The supervision facilitates for the group leaders, as they through supervision will learn from each other’s experiences. A conclusion is that good anchorage of the method facilitates for the group leaders during implementation where the group meetings are carried through.</p> / <p>Dubbelt så många kvinnor som män lider av psykisk ohälsa. Den negativa trenden av psykiska besvär bland tonåringar fortsätter. På vissa ställen i Sverige har 40 procent av tonårsflickorna uttalade depressionssymptom. Därför är det viktigt att uppmärksamma psykisk ohälsa ur ett folkhälsoperspektiv.</p><p> </p><p>En effektutvärdering av DISA-metoden (Depression In Swedish Adolescents) drog slutsatsen att denna universella depressionsförebyggande metod är välfungerande. DISA-metoden innefattar kognitiva beteendetekniker som förändrar negativa tankemönster, ger kommunikationsträning, problemlösningsstrategier samt övningar till att stärka det sociala nätverket. Syftet, i aktuell undersökning, var att låta gruppledarnas bedömningar av genomförandet och av metodens framtidsutsikter utgöra grund för metodutvecklingen, då metoden kan bli mer verkningsfull. Sex nyblivna DISA-gruppledare i Västmanland valdes ut som intervjupersoner genom strategiskt urval. Kvalitativa intervjuer fullbordades och manifest kvalitativ innehållsanalys genomfördes på transkriberingarna.</p><p> </p><p>Intresset för metoden är generellt sett stort och framtidsutsikterna är goda, enligt undersökningsresultatet. Grundutbildningen i DISA kan emellertid upplevas som tung och intensiv med negativt fokus. Det strukturerade metodmaterialet har ett avancerat språk och stereotypt genusperspektiv, vilket inverkar på gruppträffarna som kräver mycket arbete och tid. Handledningen underlättar för gruppledarna, då de under handledningen kan lära av varandras erfarenheter. En slutsats är att god förankring av metoden underlättar för DISA-gruppledarna under implementeringen där gruppträffarna genomförs.</p>

Twice as many women as men suffer from mental ill-health. The negative trend of mental problems among teenagers continues. In certain places in Sweden, 40 per cent of the teenage girls have outspoken symptoms of depression. This is why it is important to observe mental ill-health in a public health perspective.   One effect evaluation of the DISA method (Depression In Swedish Adolescents) drew the conclusion that this universal depression preventive method is well working. The DISA method includes cognitive behavioural techniques that change negative pattern of thinking, give practice of communication, strategies of problem solution plus exercises to strengthen the social network. The purpose, in current investigation, was to let the group leaders’ estimations of the carrying through and of future prospects of the method be the basis of the method development as the method can be more effective. Six persons, who recently had became group leaders of DISA in Västmanland, were selected as interviewees by structured selection. Qualitative interviews were completed. A manifest qualitative content analysis carried through on the transcriptions.   Generally speaking, the interest of the method is great and there are bright prospects, according to the result of investigation. The basic education of DISA could however be experienced as heavy and intensive with a negative focus. The structured method material has an advanced language and a stereotyped gender perspective that influence the group meetings, which takes a lot of work and time. The supervision facilitates for the group leaders, as they through supervision will learn from each other’s experiences. A conclusion is that good anchorage of the method facilitates for the group leaders during implementation where the group meetings are carried through. / Dubbelt så många kvinnor som män lider av psykisk ohälsa. Den negativa trenden av psykiska besvär bland tonåringar fortsätter. På vissa ställen i Sverige har 40 procent av tonårsflickorna uttalade depressionssymptom. Därför är det viktigt att uppmärksamma psykisk ohälsa ur ett folkhälsoperspektiv.   En effektutvärdering av DISA-metoden (Depression In Swedish Adolescents) drog slutsatsen att denna universella depressionsförebyggande metod är välfungerande. DISA-metoden innefattar kognitiva beteendetekniker som förändrar negativa tankemönster, ger kommunikationsträning, problemlösningsstrategier samt övningar till att stärka det sociala nätverket. Syftet, i aktuell undersökning, var att låta gruppledarnas bedömningar av genomförandet och av metodens framtidsutsikter utgöra grund för metodutvecklingen, då metoden kan bli mer verkningsfull. Sex nyblivna DISA-gruppledare i Västmanland valdes ut som intervjupersoner genom strategiskt urval. Kvalitativa intervjuer fullbordades och manifest kvalitativ innehållsanalys genomfördes på transkriberingarna.   Intresset för metoden är generellt sett stort och framtidsutsikterna är goda, enligt undersökningsresultatet. Grundutbildningen i DISA kan emellertid upplevas som tung och intensiv med negativt fokus. Det strukturerade metodmaterialet har ett avancerat språk och stereotypt genusperspektiv, vilket inverkar på gruppträffarna som kräver mycket arbete och tid. Handledningen underlättar för gruppledarna, då de under handledningen kan lära av varandras erfarenheter. En slutsats är att god förankring av metoden underlättar för DISA-gruppledarna under implementeringen där gruppträffarna genomförs.