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McBain RK, Schuler MS, Rukundo T, Wanyenze RK, Wagner GJ. Trajectories of perinatal depression among women living with HIV in Uganda. J Glob Health 2024; 14:04147. [PMID: 39301593 DOI: 10.7189/jogh.14.04147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Perinatal depression affects one-third of pregnant women living with HIV (WLH). We examined patterns of treatment response to a novel stepped model of depression care among WLH with perinatal depression in Uganda. Methods As part of the Maternal Depression Treatment in HIV (M-DEPTH) cluster randomised controlled trial, 191 women were enrolled across four antenatal care clinics assigned to provide stepped care including behavioural and antidepressant therapy (ADT), and another 200 across four clinics assigned to provide usual care. They were assessed for depression severity using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) at enrolment and multiple times over 12 months of follow-up. We used repeated measures latent class analysis (LCA) to identify discrete trajectories of depression symptoms, while multinomial regression analyses measured correlates of class membership. Results The LCA identified three trajectories among those in the treatment group: mildly depressed individuals who improved (MiD-I) (n = 143, 75%), moderately depressed individuals who improved (MoD-I) (n = 33, 17%), and moderately depressed individuals who remained depressed (MoD-R) (n = 15, 8%). Membership in MiD-I was associated with lower levels of intimate partner violence at baseline (P = 0.04) and month 6 (P < 0.001), and less recent trauma exposure (P = 0.03) at baseline. At month 6, social support was lowest in MoD-R, while the degree of negative problem-solving orientation was highest (both P < 0.001) in this class. The LCA also identified three trajectories among those in the usual care comparison group: mildly depressed (MiD) (n = 62, 31%), moderately depressed (MoD) (n = 71, 35%), and seriously depressed (SiD) (n = 67, 34%), with each experiencing slight improvement. Recent traumas at baseline were highest in SiD (P < 0.001); this group also reported the lowest positive problem-solving orientation and highest negative problem-solving orientation (P < 0.001) at baseline. Conclusions Depression symptom trajectories among women with perinatal depression are related to modifiable factors such as problem-solving orientation and interpersonal dynamics, with the latter including intimate partner violence and social support. Most treatment recipients were characterised by trajectories indicating recovery from depression. Registration ClinicalTrials.Gov (NCT03892915).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan K McBain
- RAND Corporation, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
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Marchetti M, Ceccarelli C, Muneghina O, Stockner M, Lai C, Mazzoni G. Enhancing mental health and well-being in adults from lower-resource settings: A mixed-method evaluation of the impact of problem management plus. Glob Ment Health (Camb) 2024; 11:e56. [PMID: 38751726 PMCID: PMC11094550 DOI: 10.1017/gmh.2024.52] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Mental health conditions, recognised as a global crisis, were further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Access to mental health services remains limited, particularly in low-income regions. Task-sharing interventions, exemplified by Problem Management Plus (PM+), have emerged as potential solutions to bridge this treatment gap. This study presents an evaluation of the PM+ scale-up in Sub-Saharan Africa (Ethiopia and Benin) and Eastern Europe (Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina) as part of a mental health and psychosocial support programming including 87 adult participants. A mixed-method approach assesses the impact of the intervention. Quantitative analyses reveal significant reductions in self-reported problems, depression, anxiety and improved functioning. Qualitative data highlight four main themes: general health, family relationships, psychosocial problems and daily activities. These thematic areas demonstrate consistent improvements across clients, irrespective of the region. The findings underscore the impact of PM+ in addressing a broad spectrum of client issues, demonstrating its potential as a valuable tool for mitigating mental health challenges in diverse settings. This study contributes to the burgeoning body of evidence supporting PM+ and highlights its promise in enhancing mental health outcomes on a global scale, particularly for vulnerable populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Marchetti
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Caterina Ceccarelli
- SOS Children’s Villages Italy, Global Expert Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (GPEG in MHPSS), Milan, Italy
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Orso Muneghina
- SOS Children’s Villages Italy, Global Expert Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (GPEG in MHPSS), Milan, Italy
| | - Mara Stockner
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Carlo Lai
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuliana Mazzoni
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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Purgato M, Prina E, Ceccarelli C, Cadorin C, Abdulmalik JO, Amaddeo F, Arcari L, Churchill R, Jordans MJ, Lund C, Papola D, Uphoff E, van Ginneken N, Tol WA, Barbui C. Primary-level and community worker interventions for the prevention of mental disorders and the promotion of well-being in low- and middle-income countries. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2023; 10:CD014722. [PMID: 37873968 PMCID: PMC10594594 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd014722.pub2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a significant research gap in the field of universal, selective, and indicated prevention interventions for mental health promotion and the prevention of mental disorders. Barriers to closing the research gap include scarcity of skilled human resources, large inequities in resource distribution and utilization, and stigma. OBJECTIVES To assess the effectiveness of delivery by primary workers of interventions for the promotion of mental health and universal prevention, and for the selective and indicated prevention of mental disorders or symptoms of mental illness in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). To examine the impact of intervention delivery by primary workers on resource use and costs. SEARCH METHODS We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Global Index Medicus, PsycInfo, WHO ICTRP, and ClinicalTrials.gov from inception to 29 November 2021. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of primary-level and/or community health worker interventions for promoting mental health and/or preventing mental disorders versus any control conditions in adults and children in LMICs. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Standardized mean differences (SMD) or mean differences (MD) were used for continuous outcomes, and risk ratios (RR) for dichotomous data, using a random-effects model. We analyzed data at 0 to 1, 1 to 6, and 7 to 24 months post-intervention. For SMDs, 0.20 to 0.49 represented small, 0.50 to 0.79 moderate, and ≥ 0.80 large clinical effects. We evaluated the risk of bias (RoB) using Cochrane RoB2. MAIN RESULTS Description of studies We identified 113 studies with 32,992 participants (97 RCTs, 19,570 participants in meta-analyses) for inclusion. Nineteen RCTs were conducted in low-income countries, 27 in low-middle-income countries, 2 in middle-income countries, 58 in upper-middle-income countries and 7 in mixed settings. Eighty-three RCTs included adults and 30 RCTs included children. Cadres of primary-level workers employed primary care health workers (38 studies), community workers (71 studies), both (2 studies), and not reported (2 studies). Interventions were universal prevention/promotion in 22 studies, selective in 36, and indicated prevention in 55 RCTs. Risk of bias The most common concerns over risk of bias were performance bias, attrition bias, and reporting bias. Intervention effects 'Probably', 'may', or 'uncertain' indicates 'moderate-', 'low-', or 'very low-'certainty evidence. *Certainty of the evidence (using GRADE) was assessed at 0 to 1 month post-intervention as specified in the review protocol. In the abstract, we did not report results for outcomes for which evidence was missing or very uncertain. Adults Promotion/universal prevention, compared to usual care: - probably slightly reduced anxiety symptoms (MD -0.14, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.27 to -0.01; 1 trial, 158 participants) - may slightly reduce distress/PTSD symptoms (SMD -0.24, 95% CI -0.41 to -0.08; 4 trials, 722 participants) Selective prevention, compared to usual care: - probably slightly reduced depressive symptoms (SMD -0.69, 95% CI -1.08 to -0.30; 4 trials, 223 participants) Indicated prevention, compared to usual care: - may reduce adverse events (1 trial, 547 participants) - probably slightly reduced functional impairment (SMD -0.12, 95% CI -0.39 to -0.15; 4 trials, 663 participants) Children Promotion/universal prevention, compared to usual care: - may improve the quality of life (SMD -0.25, 95% CI -0.39 to -0.11; 2 trials, 803 participants) - may reduce adverse events (1 trial, 694 participants) - may slightly reduce depressive symptoms (MD -3.04, 95% CI -6 to -0.08; 1 trial, 160 participants) - may slightly reduce anxiety symptoms (MD -2.27, 95% CI -3.13 to -1.41; 1 trial, 183 participants) Selective prevention, compared to usual care: - probably slightly reduced depressive symptoms (SMD 0, 95% CI -0.16 to -0.15; 2 trials, 638 participants) - may slightly reduce anxiety symptoms (MD 4.50, 95% CI -12.05 to 21.05; 1 trial, 28 participants) - probably slightly reduced distress/PTSD symptoms (MD -2.14, 95% CI -3.77 to -0.51; 1 trial, 159 participants) Indicated prevention, compared to usual care: - decreased slightly functional impairment (SMD -0.29, 95% CI -0.47 to -0.10; 2 trials, 448 participants) - decreased slightly depressive symptoms (SMD -0.18, 95% CI -0.32 to -0.04; 4 trials, 771 participants) - may slightly reduce distress/PTSD symptoms (SMD 0.24, 95% CI -1.28 to 1.76; 2 trials, 448 participants). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS The evidence indicated that prevention interventions delivered through primary workers - a form of task-shifting - may improve mental health outcomes. Certainty in the evidence was influenced by the risk of bias and by substantial levels of heterogeneity. A supportive network of infrastructure and research would enhance and reinforce this delivery modality across LMICs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianna Purgato
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
- Cochrane Global Mental Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Eleonora Prina
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Caterina Ceccarelli
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Camilla Cadorin
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Verona, Italy
| | | | - Francesco Amaddeo
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | | | - Rachel Churchill
- Cochrane Common Mental Disorders, Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, University of York, York, UK
| | - Mark Jd Jordans
- Centre for Global Mental Health, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Crick Lund
- King's Global Health Institute, Centre for Global Mental Health, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Davide Papola
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
- Cochrane Global Mental Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Eleonora Uphoff
- Cochrane Common Mental Disorders, Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, University of York, York, UK
| | - Nadja van Ginneken
- Department of Primary Care and Mental Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Wietse Anton Tol
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Corrado Barbui
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
- Cochrane Global Mental Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
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Asher L, Birhane R, Weiss HA, Medhin G, Selamu M, Patel V, De Silva M, Hanlon C, Fekadu A. Community-based rehabilitation intervention for people with schizophrenia in Ethiopia (RISE) cluster-randomised controlled trial: An exploratory analysis of impact on food insecurity, underweight, alcohol use disorder and depressive symptoms. Glob Ment Health (Camb) 2023; 10:e70. [PMID: 38024800 PMCID: PMC10643237 DOI: 10.1017/gmh.2023.67] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
We evaluated the effectiveness of community-based rehabilitation (CBR) in reducing depressive symptoms, alcohol use disorder, food insecurity and underweight in people with schizophrenia. This cluster-randomised controlled trial was conducted in a rural district of Ethiopia. Fifty-four sub-districts were allocated in a 1:1 ratio to the facility-based care [FBC] plus CBR arm and the FBC alone arm. Lay workers delivered CBR over 12 months. We assessed food insecurity (self-reported hunger), underweight (BMI< 18.5 kg/m2), depressive symptoms (PHQ-9) and alcohol use disorder (AUDIT ≥ 8) at 6 and 12 months. Seventy-nine participants with schizophrenia in 24 sub-districts were assigned to CBR plus FBC and 87 participants in 24 sub-districts were assigned to FBC only. There was no evidence of an intervention effect on food insecurity (aOR 0.52, 95% CI 0.16-1.67; p = 0.27), underweight (aOR 0.44, 95% CI 0.17-1.12; p = 0.08), alcohol use disorder (aOR 0.82, 95% CI 0.24-2.74; p = 0.74) or depressive symptoms (adjusted mean difference - 0.06, 95% CI -1.35, 1.22; p = 0.92). Psychosocial interventions in low-resource settings should support access to treatment amongst people with schizophrenia, and further research should explore how impacts on economic, physical and mental health outcomes can be achieved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Asher
- Academic Unit of Lifespan and Population Health, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Rahel Birhane
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Mental Health Research and Capacity-Building, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Centre for Innovative Drug Development and Therapeutic Trials for Africa (CDT-Africa), Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Helen A. Weiss
- MRC International Statistics and Epidemiology Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Girmay Medhin
- Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Medhin Selamu
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Mental Health Research and Capacity-Building, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Centre for Innovative Drug Development and Therapeutic Trials for Africa (CDT-Africa), Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Vikram Patel
- Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Charlotte Hanlon
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Mental Health Research and Capacity-Building, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Centre for Innovative Drug Development and Therapeutic Trials for Africa (CDT-Africa), Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Centre for Global Mental Health, Department of Health Service and Population Research, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Abebaw Fekadu
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Mental Health Research and Capacity-Building, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Centre for Innovative Drug Development and Therapeutic Trials for Africa (CDT-Africa), Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Department of Global Health & Infection, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Brighton, UK
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Schäfer SK, Thomas LM, Lindner S, Lieb K. World Health Organization's low-intensity psychosocial interventions: a systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of Problem Management Plus and Step-by-Step. World Psychiatry 2023; 22:449-462. [PMID: 37713578 PMCID: PMC10503931 DOI: 10.1002/wps.21129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Many societies have been recently exposed to humanitarian and health emergencies, which have resulted in a large number of people experiencing significant distress and being at risk to develop mental disorders such as depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. The World Health Organization has released a series of scalable psychosocial interventions for people impaired by distress in communities exposed to adversities. Prominent among these is a low-intensity transdiagnostic psychosocial intervention, Problem Management Plus (PM+), and its digital adaptation Step-by-Step (SbS). This systematic review is the first to summarize the available evidence on the effects of PM+ and SbS. Up to March 8, 2023, five databases were searched for randomized controlled trials examining the effects of PM+ or SbS on distress indicators (i.e., general distress; anxiety, depressive or post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms; functional impairment, self-identified problems) and positive mental health outcomes (i.e., well-being, quality of life, social support/relationships). We performed random-effects multilevel meta-analyses on standardized mean differences (SMDs) at post-intervention and short-term follow-up assessments. Our search yielded 23 eligible studies, including 5,298 participants. We found a small to medium favorable effect on distress indicators (SMD=-0.45, 95% CI: -0.56 to -0.34) and a small beneficial effect on positive mental health outcomes (SMD=0.31, 95% CI: 0.14-0.47), which both remained significant at follow-up assessment and were robust in sensitivity analyses. However, our analyses pointed to substantial between-study heterogeneity, which was only partially explained by moderators, and the certainty of evidence was very low across all outcomes. These results provide evidence for the effectiveness of PM+ and SbS in reducing distress indicators and promoting positive mental health in populations exposed to adversities, but a larger high-quality evidence base is needed, as well as research on participant-level moderators of the effects of these interventions, their suitability for stepped-care programs, and their cost-effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah K Schäfer
- Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research, Mainz, Germany
- Clinical Psychology, Psychotherapy and Psychodiagnostics, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Lea M Thomas
- Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research, Mainz, Germany
| | - Saskia Lindner
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Klaus Lieb
- Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research, Mainz, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
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Mathias K, Jain S, Fraser R, Davis M, Kimijima–Dennemeyer R, Pillai P, Deshpande SN, Wolters M. Improving mental ill-health with psycho-social group interventions in South Asia-A scoping review using a realist lens. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 3:e0001736. [PMID: 37639400 PMCID: PMC10461838 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0001736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
This scoping review aimed to synthesise current evidence related to psycho-social groups as part of community-based mental health interventions in South Asia. We used a realist lens to pay attention to the contexts and mechanisms supporting positive outcomes. We included studies published from January 2007 to February 2022 that: were based in communities in South Asia, included a group component, reported on interventions with a clear psychosocial component, targeted adults and were implemented by lay community health workers. Two reviewers extracted data on intervention components, groups and facilitators, participant demographics and enabling contexts, mechanisms and outcomes. Expert reference panels including people with lived experience of psycho-social disability, mental health professionals and policy makers confirmed the validity and relevance of initial review findings. The review examined 15 interventions represented by 42 papers. Only four interventions were solely psycho-social and nearly all included psychoeducation and economic support. Only 8 of the 46 quantitative outcome measures used were developed in South Asia. In a context of social exclusion and limited autonomy for people with psychosocial disability, psychosocial support groups triggered five key mechanisms. Trusted relationships undergirded all mechanisms, and provided a sense of inclusion, social support and of being able to manage mental distress due to improved skills and knowledge. Over time group members felt a sense of belonging and collective strength meaning they were better able to advocate for their own well-being and address upstream social health determinants. This led to outcomes of improved mental health and social participation across the realms of intrapersonal, interpersonal and community. Psychosocial groups merit greater attention as an active ingredient in community interventions and also as an effective, relevant, acceptable and scalable platform that can promote and increase mental health in communities, through facilitation by lay community health workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaaren Mathias
- Herbertpur Christian Hospital, Emmanuel Hospital Association, Uttarakhand, India
- Faculty of Health, Te Kaupeka Oranga, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Sumeet Jain
- School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | | | - Meghan Davis
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Pooja Pillai
- Herbertpur Christian Hospital, Emmanuel Hospital Association, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Smita N. Deshpande
- Department of Psychiatry, St John’s National Academy of Medical Sciences, Bengaluru, India
| | - Maria Wolters
- School of Informatics, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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Alvi MH, Ashraf T, Kiran T, Iqbal N, Gumber A, Patel A, Husain N. Economic burden of mental illness in Pakistan: an estimation for the year 2020 from existing evidence. BJPsych Int 2023; 20:54-56. [PMID: 37531228 PMCID: PMC10387434 DOI: 10.1192/bji.2023.4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
This report is based on the extrapolation to 2020 of data on the economic burden of mental illnesses in Pakistan in 2006. Given the resultant estimated high economic burden of mental illness in the country (£2.97 billion in 2020), we advocate a revised budget allocation to mental healthcare. As a resource-scarce nation that is entangled in natural disasters, Pakistan needs cost-effective psychological interventions such as culturally adapted manual-assisted problem-solving training (C-MAP) for the prevention of self-harm and suicide and to move towards attaining the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Although government has taken initiatives to support healthcare services (such as the Sehat Sahulat Program for universal health coverage), there is still a need to implement a cost-effective national digital model for mental healthcare such as the Agha Khan Development Network Digital Health Programme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohsin Hassan Alvi
- Research Fellow, Pakistan Institute of Living and Learning, Karachi, Pakistan.
| | - Tehmina Ashraf
- Research Assistant, Remedial Center Hospital and Nursing Home, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Tayyeba Kiran
- Assistant Director Research and Development, Pakistan Institute of Living and Learning, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Nasir Iqbal
- Associate Professor, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Anil Gumber
- Principal Health Economist, College of Health, Wellbeing and Life Sciences, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK
| | - Anita Patel
- Health Economist, Anita Patel Health Economics Consulting, London, UK
| | - Nusrat Husain
- Professor of Psychiatry, Division of Psychology & Mental Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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Belay YB, Engel L, Lee YY, Le N, Mihalopoulos C. Cost Effectiveness of Pharmacological and Non-pharmacological Treatments for Depression in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Literature Review. PHARMACOECONOMICS 2023; 41:651-673. [PMID: 36894798 PMCID: PMC9998021 DOI: 10.1007/s40273-023-01257-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Various treatment approaches are available for depression. Given the scarcity of healthcare resources, it is important to optimise treatment availability in an efficient manner. Economic evaluations can inform the optimal allocation of healthcare resources. However, there is currently no review synthesising what is known about the cost effectiveness of treatments for depression in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). METHODS This review identified articles from six database searches: APA PsycINFO, CINAHL Complete, Cochrane Library, EconLit, Embase and MEDLINE Complete. Trial- and model-based economic evaluations published between 1 January 2000 and 3 December 2022 were included. The quality of health economic studies (QHES) instrument was used to assess the quality of the included papers. RESULTS This review comprised 22 articles, with most studies (N = 17) focusing exclusively on the adult population. Even though evidence regarding the cost effectiveness of antidepressants for treating various forms of depression was inconsistent; an atypical antipsychotic (aripiprazole) was frequently reported to be cost effective for treatment-resistant depression. Task shifting (aka task sharing) to lay health workers or non-specialist health care providers appeared to be a cost-effective approach for treating depression in LMICs. CONCLUSIONS Overall, this review found mixed evidence on the cost effectiveness of depression treatment choices among LMICs, with some indication that task sharing with lay health workers may be cost effective. Future research will be needed to fill the gaps around the cost effectiveness of depression treatments in younger people and beyond healthcare facilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yared Belete Belay
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Level 4, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia.
- School of Pharmacy, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia.
| | - Lidia Engel
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Level 4, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
| | - Yong Yi Lee
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Level 4, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
- School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
- Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Ngoc Le
- Deakin Health Economics, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Cathrine Mihalopoulos
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Level 4, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
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McDaid D, Park AL. Making an economic argument for investment in global mental health: The case of conflict-affected refugees and displaced people. Glob Ment Health (Camb) 2023; 10:e10. [PMID: 37854391 PMCID: PMC10579650 DOI: 10.1017/gmh.2023.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Revised: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Mental health expenditure accounts for just 2.1% of total domestic governmental health expenditure per capita. There is an economic, as well as moral, imperative to invest more in mental health given the long-term adverse impacts of mental disorders. This paper focuses on how economic evidence can be used to support the case for action on global mental health, focusing on refugees and people displaced due to conflict. Refugees present almost unique challenges as some policy makers may be reluctant to divert scarce resources away from the domestic population to these population groups. A rapid systematic scoping review was also undertaken to identify economic evaluations of mental health-related interventions for refugees and displaced people and to look at how this evidence base can be strengthened. Only 11 economic evaluations focused on the mental health of refugees, asylum seekers and other displaced people were identified. All but two of these intervention studies potentially could be cost-effective, but only five studies reported cost per quality-adjusted life year gained, a metric allowing the economic case for investment in refugee mental health to be compared with any other health-focused intervention. There is a need for more consistent collection of data on quality of life and the longer-term impacts of intervention. The perspective adopted in economic evaluations may also need broadening to include intersectoral benefits beyond health, as well as identifying complementary benefits to host communities. More use can be also made of modelling, drawing on existing evidence on the effectiveness and resource requirements of interventions delivered in comparable settings to expand the current evidence base. The budgetary impact of any proposed strategy should be considered; modelling could also be used to look at how implementation might be adapted to contain costs and take account of local contextual factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- David McDaid
- Care Policy and Evaluation Centre, Department of Health Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK
| | - A-La Park
- Care Policy and Evaluation Centre, Department of Health Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK
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10
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Scalable interventions for refugees. Glob Ment Health (Camb) 2023; 10:e8. [PMID: 36843882 PMCID: PMC9947626 DOI: 10.1017/gmh.2022.59] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Refugees experience a greater rate of common mental disorders relative to most other populations, and there remains a need to address these needs. However, most refugees are hosted in low-and-middle-income countries, where there is a lack of resources and mental health providers who can deliver mainstream mental health services. This situation has led to the emergence of scalable mental health interventions that can deliver evidence-based programs to refugees in need. Many countries hosting refugees have implemented programs that train local lay providers in interventions that can be delivered at scale. This review provides a narrative overview of these scalable interventions and critiques the evidence for their efficacy. It is noted that there are limitations to currently available scalable interventions, and there is a need for greater attention to determining the longer-term benefits of interventions, addressing the mental health needs of refugees who do not respond to these interventions, assisting refugees with more severe psychological disorders, and understanding the specific mechanisms that underpin observed benefits of these interventions.
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11
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Peng M, Xiao T, Carter B, Chen P, Shearer J. Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness of Mental Health Interventions Delivered by Frontline Health Care Workers in Emergency Health Services: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:15847. [PMID: 36497923 PMCID: PMC9736335 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192315847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
This systematic review is to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of mental health interventions delivered by frontline health care workers in disasters and public health emergencies. Six databases and trial registries were searched, and manual searches were conducted. Of the 221 studies identified, 21 were included. Meta-analyses assessed differences between the intervention and control in terms of PTSD outcomes. Eleven studies of 1802 participants were incorporated in the meta-analysis. Interventions delivered or prompted by specialist health care workers showed significant and large effects in improving PTSD-related symptoms with a SMD = 0.99 (95% CI: 0.42-1.57, p = 0.0007). Interventions delivered or prompted by frontline non-specialist health care workers showed significant but small effects in improving PTSD-related symptoms with SMD of 0.25 (95% CI: 0.11-0.39; p = 0.0007). The results showed that most mental health interventions delivered by frontline health care workers effectively supported affected people. Mental health interventions delivered by mental health care professionals are effective in reducing PTSD-related disorders in natural disasters. Future adequately powered RCTs are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of mental health interventions delivered by trained non-specialists. Economic modelling may be useful to estimate cost effectiveness in low- and middle-income countries given the difficulties of conducting studies in disaster and emergency settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Peng
- King’s Health Economics, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Tao Xiao
- Department of Emergency Response and Preparedness, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha 410011, China
- Psychological Rescue Branch, China Association for Disaster and Emergency Rescue Medicine, Haidian District, Beijing 100080, China
| | - Ben Carter
- Department of Biostatistics and Health informatics, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Pan Chen
- Hunan Cancer Hospital, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China
| | - James Shearer
- King’s Health Economics, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London SE5 8AF, UK
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12
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Galea JT, Sanabria G, Greene KY, Thompson M, Doering T, Fuchs D, Grey A, Saucedo A, Rosler M, Simmons C. MSW Students' Perspectives on Learning and Delivering a Protocolized, Low-Intensity Transdiagnostic Psychological Intervention: Implications for Experiential Learning. Community Ment Health J 2022; 59:812-817. [PMID: 36374380 DOI: 10.1007/s10597-022-01053-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Problem Management Plus (PM+) is a protocolized, low-intensity, transdiagnostic psychological intervention designed to be delivered by lay individuals. Faculty at the University of South Florida School of Social Work recognized PM + as a potential psychological intervention for master's students to learn to complement their clinical coursework and simultaneously provide an experiential learning experience to support their clinical skills. Before this pilot, the feasibility and acceptability of integrating PM + into a Master of Social Work (MSW) setting were unknown. Upon analyzing the students' feedback using inductive content analysis, it is evident that experiential learning using interventions is crucial to building the self-efficacy of MSW students. Students reported that PM + helped their personal mental health and client interactions, using the tools they learned even a year after the pilot. Future research should focus on integrating PM + into experiential learning experiences within social work and allied academic settings and professions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerome T Galea
- School of Social Work, University of South Florida, Tampa, USA. .,College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, USA. .,Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.
| | | | - Karah Y Greene
- School of Social Work, University of South Florida, Tampa, USA
| | | | - Tracy Doering
- School of Social Work, University of South Florida, Tampa, USA
| | - Doriangel Fuchs
- School of Social Work, University of South Florida, Tampa, USA
| | - Amanda Grey
- School of Social Work, University of South Florida, Tampa, USA
| | - Adilene Saucedo
- School of Social Work, University of South Florida, Tampa, USA
| | - Melanie Rosler
- School of Social Work, University of South Florida, Tampa, USA
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13
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Dowrick C, Rosala-Hallas A, Rawlinson R, Khan N, Winrow E, Chiumento A, Burnside G, Aslam R, Billows L, Eriksson-Lee M, Lawrence D, McCluskey R, Mackinnon A, Moitt T, Orton L, Roberts E, Rahman A, Smith G, Tudor Edwards R, Uwamaliya P, White R. The Problem Management Plus psychosocial intervention for distressed and functionally impaired asylum seekers and refugees: the PROSPER feasibility RCT. PUBLIC HEALTH RESEARCH 2022. [DOI: 10.3310/nzxa0081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
The prevalence of psychological morbidity among asylum seekers and refugees is high, but these groups encounter extensive barriers to accessing health and social care. The aim of the PROSPER study was to assess the feasibility of conducting a randomised controlled trial in the UK of Problem Management Plus (PM+), an evidence-based psychosocial intervention delivered by lay therapists for distressed and functionally impaired asylum seekers and refugees.
Design
We undertook a feasibility study of PM+, which included a pilot study of the design features of a future definitive randomised controlled trial and economic evaluation. The feasibility study involved the adaptation of PM+ based on evidence drawn from literature synthesis and local stakeholder engagement, and a two-stage training procedure for lay therapists. These were followed by a pilot trial designed to assess the feasibility of conducting a three-arm randomised controlled trial of five 90-minute sessions of PM+, delivered individually or in groups, with 105 participants randomised 1 : 1 : 1 to individual PM+, group PM+ or a control intervention. Primary health outcomes were anxiety and depressive symptoms at 3 months; other outcomes included post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, quality of life, progress with identified goals and service use.
Findings
We demonstrated that the form and content of PM+ could be adapted to meet the needs of asylum seekers and refugees. Twelve people with lived experience of the asylum process were successfully trained as lay therapists to deliver this targeted, low-intensity psychosocial intervention in local asylum seeker and refugee communities. The pilot trial was affected by governance issues. It began in December 2019 and was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic. We were not able to complete recruitment and follow-up as planned; 11 out of 105 (10%) participants were recruited to the pilot trial (individual PM+, n = 4; group PM+, n = 3; control, n = 4); 8 out of 11 participants were followed up at 13 weeks and 7 out of 11 participants were followed up at 26 weeks. (Preliminary data were gathered on recruitment and retention, intervention fidelity and acceptability of study measures, including service use measures.)
Limitations
Protracted delays due to governance issues, followed by the COVID-19 pandemic, meant that we were unable to complete the pilot trial or to provide evidence regarding the feasibility of group PM+. The complexities of working with multiple languages and cultural groups were noted. There were mixed views on how successful PM+ might prove, and we had insufficient evidence to provide clear conclusions.
Future work
Future research could explore how technology can be used to improve the acceptability, feasibility, efficacy and potential cost-effectiveness of scalable mental health interventions and well-being support for distressed asylum seekers and refugees. The use of mobile phone and/or app-based forms of support may help to increase asylum seekers’ and refugees’ willingness to engage in research of this type.
Conclusions
Although it was not possible to specify the parameters for a full randomised controlled trial of PM+ for asylum seekers and refugees in the UK, our findings offer guidance on strategies that may be of value in future studies of this nature.
Trial registration
This trial is registered as ISRCTN15214107.
Funding
This project was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Public Health Research programme and will be published in full in Public Health Research; Vol. 10, No. 10. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Dowrick
- Primary Care and Mental Health, Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Anna Rosala-Hallas
- Liverpool Clinical Trials Centre, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Rebecca Rawlinson
- Liverpool Clinical Trials Centre, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Naila Khan
- Primary Care and Mental Health, Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Eira Winrow
- Centre for Health Economics and Medicines Evaluation, Bangor University, Bangor, UK
| | - Anna Chiumento
- Primary Care and Mental Health, Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Girvan Burnside
- Liverpool Clinical Trials Centre, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | | | | | | | - Daniel Lawrence
- Primary Care and Mental Health, Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | | | | | - Tracy Moitt
- Liverpool Clinical Trials Centre, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Lois Orton
- Department of Sociological Studies, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | | | - Atif Rahman
- Primary Care and Mental Health, Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Grahame Smith
- School of Nursing and Allied Health, Faculty of Health, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
| | | | - Philomene Uwamaliya
- School of Nursing and Allied Health, Faculty of Health, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
| | - Ross White
- Primary Care and Mental Health, Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
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14
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Mutyambizi-Mafunda V, Myers B, Sorsdahl K, Chanakira E, Lund C, Cleary S. Economic evaluation of psychological treatments for common mental disorders in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review. Health Policy Plan 2022; 38:239-260. [PMID: 36005943 PMCID: PMC9923379 DOI: 10.1093/heapol/czac069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Common mental disorders (CMDs) constitute a major public health and economic burden on low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Systematic reviews of economic evaluations of psychological treatments for CMDs are limited. This systematic review examines methods, reports findings and appraises the quality of economic evaluations of psychological treatments for CMDs in LMICs. We searched a range of bibliographic databases (including PubMed, EconLit, APA-PsycINFO and Cochrane library) and the African Journals Online (AJoL) and Google Scholar platforms. We used a pre-populated template to extract data and the Drummond & Jefferson checklist for quality appraisal. We present results as a narrative synthesis. The review included 26 studies, mostly from Asia (12) and Africa (9). The majority were cost-effectiveness analyses (12), some were cost-utility analyses (5), with one cost-benefit analysis or combinations of economic evaluations (8). Most interventions were considered either cost-effective or potentially cost-effective (22), with 3 interventions being not cost-effective. Limitations were noted regarding appropriateness of conclusions drawn on cost-effectiveness, the use of cost-effectiveness thresholds and application of 'societal' incremental cost-effectiveness ratios to reflect value for money (VfM) of treatments. Non-specialist health workers (NSHWs) delivered most of the treatments (16) for low-cost delivery at scale, and costs should reflect the true opportunity cost of NSHWs' time to support the development of a sustainable cadre of health care providers. There is a 4-fold increase in economic evaluations of CMD psychological treatments in the last decade over the previous one. Yet, findings from this review highlight the need for better application of economic evaluation methodology to support resource allocation towards the World Health Organization recommended first-line treatments of CMDs. We suggest impact inventories to capture societal economic gains and propose a VfM assessment framework to guide researchers in evaluating cost-effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vimbayi Mutyambizi-Mafunda
- *Corresponding author. Health Economics Unit, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, Health Sciences Faculty, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa. E-mail:
| | - Bronwyn Myers
- Curtin enAble Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Kent Street, Bentley, Perth, WA 6102, Australia,Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Francie van Zyl Drive, Tygerberg, Cape Town 7505, South Africa,Division of Addiction Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, 1st Floor, Neuroscience Institute, Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Katherine Sorsdahl
- Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, 46 Sawkins Road, Rondebosch, Cape Town 7700, South Africa
| | - Esther Chanakira
- School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Regent Court, 30 Regent Street, Sheffield, S1 4DA, UK
| | - Crick Lund
- Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, 46 Sawkins Road, Rondebosch, Cape Town 7700, South Africa,Centre for Global Mental Health, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s Global Health Institute, King’s College London, De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Susan Cleary
- Health Economics Unit, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, Health Sciences Faculty, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
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15
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Nagi MA, Rezq MAA, Sangroongruangsri S, Thavorncharoensap M, Dewi PEN. Does health economics research align with the disease burden in the Middle East and North Africa region? A systematic review of economic evaluation studies on public health interventions. Glob Health Res Policy 2022; 7:25. [PMID: 35879742 PMCID: PMC9309606 DOI: 10.1186/s41256-022-00258-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Economic evaluation studies demonstrate the value of money in health interventions and enhance the efficiency of the healthcare system. Therefore, this study reviews published economic evaluation studies of public health interventions from 26 Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries and examines whether they addressed the region's major health problems. METHODS PubMed and Scopus were utilized to search for relevant articles published up to June 26, 2021. The reviewers independently selected studies, extracted data, and assessed the quality of studies using the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards (CHEERS) checklist. RESULTS The search identified 61 studies. Approximately half (28 studies; 46%) were conducted in Israel and Iran. The main areas of interest for economic evaluation studies were infectious diseases (21 studies; 34%), cancers (13 studies; 21%), and genetic disorders (nine studies; 15%). Five (8%), 39 (64%), 16 (26%), and one (2%) studies were classified as excellent, high, average, and poor quality, respectively. The mean of CHEERS checklist items reported was 80.8% (SD 14%). Reporting the structure and justification of the selected model was missed in 21 studies (37%), while price and conversion rates and the analytical methods were missed in 21 studies (34%). CONCLUSIONS The quantity of economic evaluation studies on public health interventions in the MENA region remains low; however, the overall quality is high to excellent. There were obvious geographic gaps across countries regarding the number and quality of studies and gaps within countries concerning disease prioritization. The observed research output, however, did not reflect current and upcoming disease burden and risk factors trends in the MENA region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mouaddh Abdulmalik Nagi
- Doctor of Philosophy Program in Social, Economic and Administrative Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Aljanad University for Science and Technology, Taiz, Yemen
| | - Mustafa Ali Ali Rezq
- Master of Public Health, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Sana’a University, Sana’a, Yemen
| | - Sermsiri Sangroongruangsri
- Social and Administrative Pharmacy Excellence Research (SAPER) Unit, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400 Thailand
| | - Montarat Thavorncharoensap
- Social and Administrative Pharmacy Excellence Research (SAPER) Unit, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400 Thailand
| | - Pramitha Esha Nirmala Dewi
- Doctor of Philosophy Program in Social, Economic and Administrative Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Pharmacy Profession, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
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16
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Pinto JV, Hunt C, O'Toole B. Advancing PTSD Diagnosis and the Treatment of Trauma in Humanitarian Emergencies via Mobile Health: Protocol for a Proof-of-Concept Non-Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Res Protoc 2022; 11:e38223. [PMID: 35596546 PMCID: PMC9244657 DOI: 10.2196/38223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Decentralized health systems in Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) impacted by humanitarian crises lack resources and a qualified workforce to attend to the overwhelming demand for mental health care in emergencies. Innovative approaches that are safe, cost-effective, and scalable are needed to address the burden of traumatic stress brought by emergencies. High mobile phone ownership rates combined with the precision of neural, cognitive, and biometric measures of trauma and its feasible integration with Artificial Intelligence (AI) makes digital application (app) interventions a promising pathway to promote precision diagnosis and high-impact care. OBJECTIVE The aims of this study are to advance methods for the objective diagnosis and treatment of trauma in emergencies across LMICs by examining (i) neural, cognitive, and biometric markers and (ii) the efficacy of the eResilience App, a neuroscience-informed mobile health mental health app intervention, via changes in clinical symptomatology, cognitive performance, and brain activity. METHODS Trauma-exposed African refugees residing in Australia were selected for this study. A research software version of the eResilience App with advanced monitoring capabilities was designed for the trial. Participants completed the eResilience App at home during a seven-day period. Clinical, cognitive, and electrophysiological data were collected during baseline and post-test to examine biomarkers of trauma and the efficacy of the proposed digital intervention for the treatment of trauma and its potential outcomes including depression, anxiety, physical symptoms, self-harm, substance misuse, and cognitive impairment. In addition, biofeedback, wellbeing, and subjective stress data points were collected via the app during the treatment week, followed by clinical interviews at 1, 3, 6 and 12-months post-intervention. RESULTS Data collection was conducted between 2018 and 2020. A total n=100 participants exposed to war were screened, n= 75 were enrolled and assigned to a trauma-exposed control (n=38) or Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) condition (n=37), and n= 70 completed all baseline, treatment, and post-test assessments. A total n=62 of the n=70 who completed the intervention opted to enrol in the 3, 6 and 12-month follow-ups. Data collection is complete, and results are being prepared for publication. If proven efficacious, this proof-of-concept clinical trial will inform fully powered randomized clinical trials in LMICs to further develop AI-powered, app-based diagnostic and prognostic features, and determine the app's cross-cultural efficacy for the treatment of trauma in emergency settings. CONCLUSIONS This protocol provides researchers with a comprehensive background of the study rationale, a detailed guideline for replication studies interested in examining the feasibility and the efficacy of the eResilience App across varied demographics, and a robust framework for investigations of low-cost objective diagnostic markers in mental health interventions. Methodological limitations and suggestions are also provided. CLINICALTRIAL Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR): ACTRN12616001205426. Universal Trial Number (UTN): U1111-1180-0347.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janaina Videira Pinto
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, the University of Sydney, 94 Mallett St, Sydney, AU.,Sync Body-Brain Health, Currimundi, AU
| | - Caroline Hunt
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, the University of Sydney, Sydney, AU
| | - Brian O'Toole
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, the University of Sydney, 94 Mallett St, Sydney, AU
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17
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de Graaff AM, Cuijpers P, Acarturk C, Akhtar A, Alkneme MS, Aoun M, Awwad M, Bawaneh AY, Brown FL, Bryant R, Burchert S, Carswell K, Drogendijk A, Engels M, Fuhr DC, Hansen P, van 't Hof E, Giardinelli L, Hemmo M, Hessling JM, Ilkkursun Z, Jordans MJD, Kiselev N, Knaevelsrud C, Kurt G, Martinmäki S, McDaid D, Morina N, Naser H, Park AL, Pfaltz MC, Roberts B, Schick M, Schnyder U, Spaaij J, Steen F, Taha K, Uygun E, Ventevogel P, Whitney C, Witteveen AB, Sijbrandij M. Scalable psychological interventions for Syrian refugees in Europe and the Middle East: STRENGTHS study protocol for a prospective individual participant data meta-analysis. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e058101. [PMID: 35443961 PMCID: PMC9021771 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-058101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The World Health Organization's (WHO) scalable psychological interventions, such as Problem Management Plus (PM+) and Step-by-Step (SbS) are designed to be cost-effective non-specialist delivered interventions to reduce symptoms of common mental disorders, such as anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The STRENGTHS consortium aims to evaluate the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and implementation of the individual format of PM+ and its group version (gPM+), as well as of the digital SbS intervention among Syrian refugees in seven countries in Europe and the Middle East. This is a study protocol for a prospective individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis to evaluate (1) overall effectiveness and cost-effectiveness and (2) treatment moderators of PM+, gPM+ and SbS with Syrian refugees. METHODS AND ANALYSIS Five pilot randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and seven fully powered RCTs conducted within STRENGTHS will be combined into one IPD meta-analytic dataset. The RCTs include Syrian refugees of 18 years and above with elevated psychological distress (Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10>15)) and impaired daily functioning (WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0>16)). Participants are randomised into the intervention or care as usual control group, and complete follow-up assessments at 1-week, 3-month and 12-month follow-up. Primary outcomes are symptoms of depression and anxiety (25-item Hopkins Symptom Checklist). Secondary outcomes include daily functioning (WHODAS 2.0), PTSD symptoms (PTSD Checklist for DSM-5) and self-identified problems (PSYCHLOPS). We will conduct a one-stage IPD meta-analysis using linear mixed models. Quality of evidence will be assessed using the GRADE approach, and the economic evaluation approach will be assessed using the CHEC-list. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION Local ethical approval has been obtained for each RCT. This IPD meta-analysis does not require ethical approval. The results of this study will be published in international peer-reviewed journals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne M de Graaff
- Department of Clinical, Neuro- and Developmental Psychology, World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Research and Dissemination of Psychological Interventions, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Pim Cuijpers
- Department of Clinical, Neuro- and Developmental Psychology, World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Research and Dissemination of Psychological Interventions, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ceren Acarturk
- Department of Psychology, Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Aemal Akhtar
- School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Mhd Salem Alkneme
- Division of Clinical-Psychological Intervention, Department of Education and Psychology, Freie Universitat Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - May Aoun
- Research and Development Department, War Child, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Manar Awwad
- Technical Unit, International Medical Corps, London, UK
| | | | - Felicity L Brown
- Research and Development Department, War Child, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute of Social Science Research, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Richard Bryant
- School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Sebastian Burchert
- Division of Clinical-Psychological Intervention, Department of Education and Psychology, Freie Universitat Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Kenneth Carswell
- Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, World Health Organization, Geneve, Switzerland
| | | | - Michelle Engels
- International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Reference Centre for Psychosocial Support, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Daniela C Fuhr
- Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Pernille Hansen
- International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Reference Centre for Psychosocial Support, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Edith van 't Hof
- Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, World Health Organization, Geneve, Switzerland
| | | | - Mahmoud Hemmo
- Department of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jonas M Hessling
- Division of Clinical-Psychological Intervention, Department of Education and Psychology, Freie Universitat Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Mark J D Jordans
- Research and Development Department, War Child, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute of Social Science Research, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Nikolai Kiselev
- Department of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Christine Knaevelsrud
- Division of Clinical-Psychological Intervention, Department of Education and Psychology, Freie Universitat Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gülsah Kurt
- Department of Psychology, Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Saara Martinmäki
- ARQ International, ARQ National Psychotrauma Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - David McDaid
- Care Policy and Evaluation Centre, Department of Health Policy, The London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK
| | - Naser Morina
- Department of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Hadeel Naser
- Technical Unit, International Medical Corps, London, UK
| | - A-La Park
- Care Policy and Evaluation Centre, Department of Health Policy, The London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK
| | - Monique C Pfaltz
- Department of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Psychology and Social Work, Mid Sweden University, Sundsvall, Sweden
| | - Bayard Roberts
- Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Matthis Schick
- Department of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ulrich Schnyder
- Department of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Julia Spaaij
- Department of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Frederik Steen
- Research and Development Department, War Child, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Karine Taha
- Research and Development Department, War Child, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ersin Uygun
- Trauma and Disaster Mental Health Master Programme, Istanbul Bilgi University, Istanbul, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Peter Ventevogel
- Public Health, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Anke B Witteveen
- Department of Clinical, Neuro- and Developmental Psychology, World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Research and Dissemination of Psychological Interventions, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marit Sijbrandij
- Department of Clinical, Neuro- and Developmental Psychology, World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Research and Dissemination of Psychological Interventions, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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18
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Bryant RA, Bawaneh A, Awwad M, Al-Hayek H, Giardinelli L, Whitney C, Jordans MJD, Cuijpers P, Sijbrandij M, Ventevogel P, Dawson K, Akhtar A. Effectiveness of a brief group behavioral intervention for common mental disorders in Syrian refugees in Jordan: A randomized controlled trial. PLoS Med 2022; 19:e1003949. [PMID: 35298469 PMCID: PMC8929659 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Common mental disorders are frequently experienced by refugees. This study evaluates the impact of a brief, lay provider delivered group-based psychological intervention [Group Problem Management Plus (gPM+)] on the mental health of refugees in a camp, as well as on parenting behavior and children's mental health. METHODS AND FINDINGS In this single-blind, parallel, randomized controlled trial, 410 adult Syrian refugees (300 females, 110 males) in Azraq Refugee Camp (Jordan) were identified through screening of psychological distress (≥16 on the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale) and impaired functioning (≥17 on the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule). Participants were randomly allocated to gPM+ or enhanced usual care (EUC) involving referral information for psychosocial services on a 1:1 ratio. Participants were aware of treatment allocation, but assessors were blinded to treatment condition. Primary outcomes were scores on the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 (HSCL; depression and anxiety scales) assessed at baseline, 6 weeks, and 3 months follow-up as the primary outcome time point. It was hypothesized that gPM+ would result in greater reductions of scores on the HSCL than EUC. Secondary outcomes were disability, posttraumatic stress, personally identified problems, prolonged grief, prodromal psychotic symptoms, parenting behavior, and children's mental health. Between October 15, 2019 and March 2, 2020, 624 refugees were screened for eligibility, 462 (74.0%) screened positive, of whom 204 were assigned to gPM+ and 206 to EUC. There were 168 (82.4%) participants in gPM+ and 189 (91.7%) in EUC assessed at follow-up. Intent-to-treat analyses indicated that at follow-up, participants in gPM+ showed greater reduction on HSCL depression scale than those receiving EUC (mean difference, 3.69 [95% CI 1.90 to 5.48], p = .001; effect size, 0.40). There was no difference between conditions in anxiety (mean difference -0.56, 95% CI -2.09 to 0.96; p = .47; effect size, -0.03). Relative to EUC, participants in gPM+ had greater reductions in severity of personally identified problems (mean difference 0.88, 95% CI 0.07 to 1.69; p = .03), and inconsistent disciplinary parenting (mean difference 1.54, 95% CI 1.03 to 2.05; p < .001). There were no significant differences between conditions for changes in PTSD, disability, grief, prodromal symptoms, or childhood mental health outcomes. Mediation analysis indicated the change in inconsistent disciplinary parenting was associated with reduced attentional (β = 0.11, SE .07; 95% CI .003 to .274) and internalizing (β = 0.08, SE .05; 95% CI .003 to 0.19) problems in children. No adverse events were attributable to the interventions or the trial. Major limitations included only one-quarter of participants being male, and measures of personally identified problems, grief, prodromal psychotic symptoms, inconsistent parenting behavior, and children's mental health have not been validated with Syrians. CONCLUSIONS In camp-based Syrian refugees, a brief group behavioral intervention led to reduced depressive symptoms, personally identified problems, and disciplinary parenting compared to usual care, and this may have indirect benefits for refugees' children. The limited capacity of the intervention to reduce PTSD, disability, or children's psychological problems points to the need for development of more effective treatments for refugees in camp settings. TRIAL REGISTRATION Prospectively registered at Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12619001386123.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard A. Bryant
- University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- Westmead Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, Australia
| | - Ahmad Bawaneh
- Jordan Country Office, International Medical Corps, Amman, Jordan
| | - Manar Awwad
- Jordan Country Office, International Medical Corps, Amman, Jordan
| | - Hadeel Al-Hayek
- Jordan Country Office, International Medical Corps, Amman, Jordan
| | | | - Claire Whitney
- International Medical Corps, Washington DC, United States of America
| | - Mark J. D. Jordans
- War Child, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | | | - Peter Ventevogel
- United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Katie Dawson
- University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Aemal Akhtar
- University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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19
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McBain RK, Mwale O, Ruderman T, Kayira W, Connolly E, Chalamanda M, Kachimanga C, Khongo BD, Wilson J, Wroe E, Raviola G, Smith S, Coleman S, Kelly K, Houde A, Tebeka MG, Watson S, Kulisewa K, Udedi M, Wagner G. Stepped care for depression at integrated chronic care centers (IC3) in Malawi: study protocol for a stepped-wedge cluster randomized controlled trial. Trials 2021; 22:630. [PMID: 34530894 PMCID: PMC8444539 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-021-05601-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 09/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malawi is a low-income country in sub-Saharan Africa that has limited resources to address a significant burden of disease-including HIV/AIDS. Additionally, depression is a leading cause of disability in the country but largely remains undiagnosed and untreated. The lack of cost-effective, scalable solutions is a fundamental barrier to expanding depression treatment. Against this backdrop, one major success has been the scale-up of a network of more than 700 HIV clinics, with over half a million patients enrolled in antiretroviral therapy (ART). As a chronic care system with dedicated human resources and infrastructure, this presents a strategic platform for integrating depression care and responds to a robust evidence base outlining the bi-directionality of depression and HIV outcomes. METHODS We will evaluate a stepped model of depression care that combines group-based Problem Management Plus (group PM+) with antidepressant therapy (ADT) for 420 adults with moderate/severe depression in Neno District, Malawi, as measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). Roll-out will follow a stepped-wedge cluster randomized design in which 14 health facilities are randomized to implement the model in five steps over a 15-month period. Primary outcomes (depression symptoms, functional impairment, and overall health) and secondary outcomes (e.g., HIV: viral load, ART adherence; diabetes: A1C levels, treatment adherence; hypertension: systolic blood pressure, treatment adherence) will be measured every 3 months through 12-month follow-up. We will also evaluate the model's cost-effectiveness, quantified as an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) compared to baseline chronic care services in the absence of the intervention model. DISCUSSION This study will conduct a stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial to compare the effects of an evidence-based depression care model versus usual care on depression symptom remediation as well as physical health outcomes for chronic care conditions. If determined to be cost-effective, this study will provide a model for integrating depression care into HIV clinics in additional districts of Malawi and other low-resource settings with high HIV prevalence. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04777006 . Registered on 1 March, 2021.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan K McBain
- RAND Corporation, Boston, 20 Park Plz, Boston, MA, 02116, USA.
- Partners In Health, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Owen Mwale
- Partners in Health, Neno District, Malawi
| | | | | | - Emilia Connolly
- Partners in Health, Neno District, Malawi
- Division of Hospital Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Division of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Emily Wroe
- Partners In Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Giuseppe Raviola
- Partners In Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Stephanie Smith
- Partners In Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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20
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Turrini G, Tedeschi F, Cuijpers P, Del Giovane C, Kip A, Morina N, Nosè M, Ostuzzi G, Purgato M, Ricciardi C, Sijbrandij M, Tol W, Barbui C. A network meta-analysis of psychosocial interventions for refugees and asylum seekers with PTSD. BMJ Glob Health 2021; 6:e005029. [PMID: 34088735 PMCID: PMC8183228 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2021-005029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Refugees and asylum seekers are vulnerable to common mental disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Using a network meta-analysis (NMA) approach, the present systematic review compared and ranked psychosocial interventions for the treatment of PTSD in adult refugees and asylum seekers. METHODS Randomised studies of psychosocial interventions for adult refugees and asylum seekers with PTSD were systematically identified. PTSD symptoms at postintervention was the primary outcome. Standardised mean differences (SMDs) and ORs were pooled using pairwise and NMA. Study quality was assessed with the Cochrane Risk of Bias (RoB) tool, and certainty of evidence was assessed through the Confidence in Network Meta-Analysis application. RESULTS A total of 23 studies with 2308 participants were included. Sixteen studies were conducted in high-income countries, and seven in low-income or middle-income countries. Most studies were at low risk of bias according to the Cochrane RoB tool. NMA on PTSD symptoms showed that cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) (SMD=-1.41; 95% CI -2.43 to -0.38) and eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) (SMD=-1.30; 95% CI -2.40 to -0.20) were significantly more effective than waitlist (WL). CBT was also associated with a higher decrease in PTSD symptoms than treatment as usual (TAU) (SMD -1.51; 95% CI -2.67 to -0.36). For all other interventions, the difference with WL and TAU was not significant. CBT and EMDR ranked best according to the mean surface under the cumulative ranking. Regarding acceptability, no intervention had less dropouts than inactive interventions. CONCLUSION CBT and EMDR appeared to have the greatest effects in reducing PTSD symptoms in asylum seekers and refugees. This evidence should be considered in guidelines and implementation packages to facilitate dissemination and uptake in refugee settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Turrini
- Cochrane Global Mental Health and WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Mental Health and Service Evaluation, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Federico Tedeschi
- Cochrane Global Mental Health and WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Mental Health and Service Evaluation, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Pim Cuijpers
- Department of Clinical, Neuro, and Developmental Psychology, Amsterdam Public Health Institute, and WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Dissemination of Psychological Interventions, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Cinzia Del Giovane
- Institute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ahlke Kip
- Institute of Psychology, University of Münster, Munster, Germany
| | - Nexhmedin Morina
- Institute of Psychology, University of Münster, Munster, Germany
| | - Michela Nosè
- Cochrane Global Mental Health and WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Mental Health and Service Evaluation, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Giovanni Ostuzzi
- Cochrane Global Mental Health and WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Mental Health and Service Evaluation, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Marianna Purgato
- Cochrane Global Mental Health and WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Mental Health and Service Evaluation, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Chiara Ricciardi
- Cochrane Global Mental Health and WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Mental Health and Service Evaluation, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Marit Sijbrandij
- Department of Clinical, Neuro, and Developmental Psychology, Amsterdam Public Health Institute, and WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Dissemination of Psychological Interventions, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Wietse Tol
- Section of Global Health, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Kobenhavn, Denmark
- Department of Mental Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Peter C. Alderman Program for Global Mental Health, HealthRight International, New York, New York, USA
| | - Corrado Barbui
- Cochrane Global Mental Health and WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Mental Health and Service Evaluation, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
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21
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Tol WA, Ager A, Bizouerne C, Bryant R, El Chammay R, Colebunders R, García-Moreno C, Hamdani SU, James LE, Jansen SCJ, Leku MR, Likindikoki S, Panter-Brick C, Pluess M, Robinson C, Ruttenberg L, Savage K, Welton-Mitchell C, Hall BJ, Harper Shehadeh M, Harmer A, van Ommeren M. Improving mental health and psychosocial wellbeing in humanitarian settings: reflections on research funded through R2HC. Confl Health 2020; 14:71. [PMID: 33292413 PMCID: PMC7602334 DOI: 10.1186/s13031-020-00317-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Major knowledge gaps remain concerning the most effective ways to address mental health and psychosocial needs of populations affected by humanitarian crises. The Research for Health in Humanitarian Crisis (R2HC) program aims to strengthen humanitarian health practice and policy through research. As a significant portion of R2HC's research has focused on mental health and psychosocial support interventions, the program has been interested in strengthening a community of practice in this field. Following a meeting between grantees, we set out to provide an overview of the R2HC portfolio, and draw lessons learned. In this paper, we discuss the mental health and psychosocial support-focused research projects funded by R2HC; review the implications of initial findings from this research portfolio; and highlight four remaining knowledge gaps in this field. Between 2014 and 2019, R2HC funded 18 academic-practitioner partnerships focused on mental health and psychosocial support, comprising 38% of the overall portfolio (18 of 48 projects) at a value of approximately 7.2 million GBP. All projects have focused on evaluating the impact of interventions. In line with consensus-based recommendations to consider a wide range of mental health and psychosocial needs in humanitarian settings, research projects have evaluated diverse interventions. Findings so far have both challenged and confirmed widely-held assumptions about the effectiveness of mental health and psychosocial interventions in humanitarian settings. They point to the importance of building effective, sustained, and diverse partnerships between scholars, humanitarian practitioners, and funders, to ensure long-term program improvements and appropriate evidence-informed decision making. Further research needs to fill knowledge gaps regarding how to: scale-up interventions that have been found to be effective (e.g., questions related to integration across sectors, adaptation of interventions across different contexts, and optimal care systems); address neglected mental health conditions and populations (e.g., elderly, people with disabilities, sexual minorities, people with severe, pre-existing mental disorders); build on available local resources and supports (e.g., how to build on traditional, religious healing and community-wide social support practices); and ensure equity, quality, fidelity, and sustainability for interventions in real-world contexts (e.g., answering questions about how interventions from controlled studies can be transferred to more representative humanitarian contexts).
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Affiliation(s)
- Wietse A Tol
- Section of Global Health, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, bg 9, DK-1014, Copenhagen, Denmark.
- Peter C. Alderman Program for Global Mental Health, HealthRight International, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Alastair Ager
- Institute for Global Health and Development, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, UK
- Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Cecile Bizouerne
- Mental Health, Child Care Practices, Gender and Protection, Action Contre La Faim, Paris, France
| | - Richard Bryant
- School of Psychology & Traumatic Stress Clinic, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Rabih El Chammay
- National Mental Health Programme, Ministry of Public Health, Beirut, Lebanon
- Department of Psychiatry, Saint Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | | | - Claudia García-Moreno
- Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Leah E James
- Institute of Behavioral Science, University of Colorado, Boulder, CA, USA
| | - Stefan C J Jansen
- Center for Mental Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda
| | | | - Samuel Likindikoki
- Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Catherine Panter-Brick
- Jackson Institute of Global Affairs, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Anthropology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Michael Pluess
- Department of Biological and Experimental Psychology, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Courtland Robinson
- Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, London, UK
| | - Leontien Ruttenberg
- International Medical Relief Services (IMRES), Prior association: Arq International, Europe, Netherlands
| | - Kevin Savage
- Evidence Building, World Vision International, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Courtney Welton-Mitchell
- Institute of Behavioral Science and Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Boulder, Denver, USA
| | - Brian J Hall
- Global and Community Mental Health Research Group, New York University (Shanghai), Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | | | | | - Mark van Ommeren
- Institute of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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