Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy vs. Psychoeducation: Comparative Effectiveness and Implications for Adolescent Treatment Development

Background: Emotional distress remains a significant contributor to mental health disorders globally, particularly among adolescents and in low-income rural areas with poor treatment rates, high prevalence, and a paucity of evidence-based treatment data. Objective: This study evaluated the development and differential efficacies of brief cognitive-behaviour therapy (BCBT) and psychoeducation (PE) on emotional distress among adolescents in Oyo, South-West Nigeria. Methodology: This study utilised a pre-test post-test control group experimental design. Seventy-two adolescents (mean age 13 years, SD±2) were included in the sample. Participants were identified as having emotional distress, defined by a mean pre-test score of 31 points on the 21-item Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales (DASS). The participants were randomly assigned by ballot into three groups—one control group and two experimental groups—with 24 participants per group. Results: The results of the pairwise sample t-test showed that brief cognitive-behaviour therapy (BCBT) and psychoeducation (PE) treatments significantly lowered emotional distress [t (20)= 6.9, p< 0.05; t (22)= 8.7, p< 0.05] of experimental group participants compared to the control group [t (19)= 0.1, p> 0.05]. Independent samples t-test revealed that brief cognitive-behaviour therapy and psychoeducation at post-test and follow-up did not differ significantly in their effectiveness in reducing emotional distress [(t (42)= 1.6, p> 0.05); (t (11)= 1.7, p> 0.05)]. Conclusion: Both brief cognitive-behaviour therapy (BCBT) and psychoeducation (PE) were significantly effective in reducing emotional distress among adolescents, with the treatment gains being sustained at follow-up. Unique Contribution: This study is among the first to establish and comparatively determine the differential sustainability of therapeutic efficacy between brief cognitive-behaviour therapy (BCBT) and psychoeducation (PE) in mitigating emotional distress among Nigerian adolescents. Key Recommendation: It is strongly recommended that brief cognitive-behaviour therapy (BCBT) and psychoeducation (PE) be developed and formally integrated into adolescent school curricula. Further empirical research is warranted to support and refine this integration.