Aim and Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of life skills training to reduce depressive symptoms in students of Piranshahr, Iran. Methods and Materials: A total number of 64 male high school students who scored 96-140 on children's depression scale were selected randomly from Piranshahr. The participants were randomly allocated into two groups of experimental and control. The experimental group attended 12 sessions of group life skills training. However, the control group received no intervention. Both groups completed children's depression scale before and after the intervention. Findings: The results of analysis of covariance showed that life skills training was effective in reducing depressive symptoms and significantly reduced social problems, and preoccupation with death and diseases. The treatment was however found to be ineffective in reducing affective responses and sense of guilt and improving self esteem and pleasure. Conclusions: According to our results, it appears that a complete treatment of depressive symptoms requires a more extensive training.
