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Dambi J, Shava BK, Tunduwani TD, Chitiyo C, Takaona T, Mashunye T, Dzapasi L, Chibanda D. Evaluation of the Friendship Bench' Circle Kubatana Tose (CKT): an add-on support group intervention - a mixed-methods pilot interventional cohort study protocol. BMJ Open 2024; 14:e079842. [PMID: 39038863 PMCID: PMC11268037 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-079842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Mental disorders are endemic. However, the mental health treatment gap remains high, especially in low-resource settings. Task-shifting is a universally recommended strategy to mitigate the care gap. The Friendship Bench (FB), a task-shifting, low-intensity psychotherapy programme founded in Zimbabwe, is effective in managing anxiety and depression. The FB programme offers clients the choice of joining add-on mental health support groups known as Circle Kubatana Tose (CKT). These groups offer an opportunity for continued psychoeducation, social support and economic strengthening. However, the evidence base for the effectiveness of add-on support groups is sparse. We hypothesise that participation in CKT is associated with increased adherence to treatment regimens, social support and well-being. This mixed-methods prospective cohort study seeks to evaluate the intermediate effects (6-month follow-up) of CKT groups, including process outcome evaluation. METHODS AND ANALYSIS We will recruit participants (N=178) receiving mental healthcare from the FB in Harare primary care clinics. Follow-up assessments will occur at enrolment, 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months, assessing changes in common mental disorders (depression and anxiety), social support, positive psychological indices (hope and resilience), health-related quality of life, working alliance, economic outcomes (net income) and implementation outcome (feasibility, acceptability/satisfaction and uptake of services). Quantitative data will be analysed using descriptive analysis, bivariate statistics, Cox proportional hazard models and generalised mixed models (maximum likelihood estimation). Qualitative data will be analysed using thematic analysis. DISSEMINATION AND ETHICS Ethical approval was granted by the Medical Research Council of Zimbabwe (MRCZ/A/2427). The findings will inform the potential utility of add-on support groups in the management of anxiety and depression using task-shifting. Dissemination study outcomes will be disseminated in academic journals, social media, conferences and policy briefs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jermaine Dambi
- Research and Evidence Synthesis Unit, Friendship Bench Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Beatrice K Shava
- Research and Evidence Synthesis Unit, Friendship Bench Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Tariro Dee Tunduwani
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | | | - Tapiwa Takaona
- Strategic Information Evaluation, Friendship Bench Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | | | - Lloyd Dzapasi
- Livelihoods, Friendship Bench Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Dixon Chibanda
- Mental Health Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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Mukala Mayoyo E, Chenge F, Sow A, Criel B, Michielsen J, Van den Broeck K, Coppieters Y. Health system facilitators and barriers to the integration of mental health services into primary care in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: a multimethod study. BMC PRIMARY CARE 2024; 25:214. [PMID: 38872119 PMCID: PMC11170818 DOI: 10.1186/s12875-024-02460-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The integration of mental health into primary care-i.e., the process by which a range of essential mental health care and services are made available in existing multipurpose health care settings that did not previously provide them-can be facilitated or hindered by several health system factors that are still poorly understood. This study aimed to identify health system facilitators and barriers to the integration of mental health services into primary care in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to improve the success rate of integration programs. METHODS We conducted a multimethod, cross-sectional exploratory study. Stakeholders (managers, health service providers, service users, etc.) from sixteen of the twenty-six provinces of the DRC participated. We collected qualitative data through 31 individual, semistructured, face-to-face key informant interviews. We then collected quantitative data through a population-based survey of 413 respondents. We analyzed the interviews via thematic analysis, assigning verbatims to predefined themes and subthemes. For the survey responses, we performed descriptive analysis followed by binomial logistic regression to explore the associations between the variables of interest. RESULTS Strong leadership commitment, positive attitudes toward mental health care, the availability of care protocols, mental health task sharing (p < 0.001), and sufficient numbers of primary care providers (PCPs) (p < 0.001) were identified as key health system facilitators of successful integration. However, barriers to integration are mainly related to a poor understanding of what integration is and what it is not, as well as to the poor functionality and performance of health facilities. In addition, stigma, low prioritization of mental health, lack of mental health referents, low retention rate of trained health professionals, lack of reporting tools, lack of standardized national guidelines for integration (p < 0.001), lack of funding (p < 0.001), shortage of mental health specialists to coach PCPs (p < 0.001), and lack of psychotropic medications (p < 0.001) were identified as health system barriers to integration. CONCLUSION Improving the functionality of primary care settings before integrating mental health care would be beneficial for greater success. In addition, addressing identified barriers, such as lack of funding and mental health-related stigma, requires multistakeholder action across all building blocks of the health system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erick Mukala Mayoyo
- School of Public Health, University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- Research Center in Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Clinical Research, School of Public Health, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
- Department of Community Health, Institut Supérieur des Techniques Médicales de Kananga, Kananga, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- Centre de Connaissances en Santé en RD Congo, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
| | - Faustin Chenge
- School of Public Health, University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Centre de Connaissances en Santé en RD Congo, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Abdoulaye Sow
- Faculty of Health Science and Techniques, Gamal Abdel Nasser University of Conakry, Conakry, Guinea
| | - Bart Criel
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Joris Michielsen
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Kris Van den Broeck
- Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Yves Coppieters
- Research Center in Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Clinical Research, School of Public Health, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
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Sum MY, Wong CTW, Chu ST, Li A, Lee AHT, Chen EYH, Chan SKW. Systematic review and meta-analysis of internalised stigma and stigma resistance in patients with psychosis: The impact of individualism-collectivism culture and other individual factors. Int J Soc Psychiatry 2024; 70:639-652. [PMID: 38279534 DOI: 10.1177/00207640231216924] [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: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aimed to meta-analysis the level of internalised stigma experienced by individuals with psychosis worldwide, and the impact of cultural differences, economic status of the studied regions and duration of illness on their levels of internalised stigma. Clinical and individual level factors associated with internalised stigma and stigma resistance were also systematically reviewed. METHODS A systematic search of keywords on two scholarly databases were conducted. The individualism index of the countries or regions where the studies were conducted was retrieved from Hofstede's updated measurement of individualism. Economic status of regions was categorised based on their per capita gross national income. Meta-analysis and meta-regression were conducted using the 'metafor' package in R. Factors associated with internalised stigma and stigma resistance were also systematically consolidated. RESULTS Seventy-three articles were included in the meta-analysis and the pooled score of both internalised stigma and stigma resistance of individuals with psychosis were within the mild range (2.20 and 2.44, respectively). The meta-regression analysis found high collectivism culture is significantly related to a higher level of internalised stigma. Economic status was not significant. Thirty-five articles were included in the systematic review and clinical, psychological, psychosocial variables, cognition and sociodemographic factors were found to be associated with internalised stigma. CONCLUSION Internalised stigma in psychosis is ubiquitous worldwide and high collectivism culture may be related with high internalised stigma. With the presence of multiple individual factors related to internalised stigma, intervention programmes to reduce internalised stigma should consider focussing on both macro- and micro-level factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Yi Sum
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Charmaine Tsz Wing Wong
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Sin Ting Chu
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Angel Li
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Athena Hoi Ting Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Eric Yu Hai Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Sherry Kit Wa Chan
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong SAR
- The State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong SAR
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Poudyal A, Lewis DM, Taha S, Martinez AJ, Magoun L, Ho YX, Carmio N, Naslund JA, Sanchez K, Lesh N, Patel V. Designing an App to Support Measurement-Based Peer Supervision of Frontline Health Workers Delivering Brief Psychosocial Interventions in Texas: Multimethod Study. JMIR Form Res 2024; 8:e55205. [PMID: 38466971 DOI: 10.2196/55205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The unmet need for mental health care affects millions of Americans. A growing body of evidence in implementation science supports the effectiveness of task sharing in the delivery of brief psychosocial interventions. The digitization of training and processes supporting supervision can rapidly scale up task-shared interventions and enable frontline health workers (FLWs) to learn, master, and deliver interventions with quality and support. OBJECTIVE We aimed to assess the perceived feasibility and acceptability of a novel mobile and web app designed and adapted to support the supervision, training, and quality assurance of FLWs delivering brief psychosocial interventions. METHODS We followed human-centered design principles to adapt a prototype app for FLWs delivering brief psychosocial interventions for depression, drawing from an app previously designed for use in rural India. Using a multimethod approach, we conducted focus group sessions comprising usability testing and group interviews with FLWs recruited from a large health system in Texas to assess the feasibility and acceptability of the app. The positive System Usability Scale was used to determine the app's overall usability. We also calculated the participants' likelihood of recommending the app to others using ratings of 0 to 10 from least to most likely (net promoter score). Focus group transcripts were coded and analyzed thematically, and recommendations were summarized across 4 key domains. RESULTS A total of 18 FLWs varying in role and experience with client care participated in the study. Participants found the app to be usable, with an average System Usability Scale score of 72.5 (SD 18.1), consistent with the industry benchmark of 68. Participants' likelihood of recommending the app ranged from 5 to 10, yielding a net promoter score of 0, indicating medium acceptability. Overall impressions of the app from participants were positive. Most participants (15/18, 83%) found the app easy to access and navigate. The app was considered important to support FLWs in delivering high-quality mental health care services. Participants felt that the app could provide more structure to FLW training and supervision processes through the systematic collection and facilitation of performance-related feedback. Key concerns included privacy-related and time constraints regarding implementing a separate peer supervision mechanism that may add to FLWs' workloads. CONCLUSIONS We designed, built, and tested a usable, functional mobile and web app prototype that supports FLW-delivered psychosocial interventions in the United States through a structured supervision mechanism and systematic collection and review of performance measures. The app has the potential to scale the work of FLWs tasked with delivering these interventions to the hardest-to-reach communities they serve. The results of this project will inform future work to evaluate the app's use and efficacy in real-world settings to support task-shared mental health programs across the United States.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anubhuti Poudyal
- Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, United States
| | | | - Sarah Taha
- Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Alyssa J Martinez
- Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | | | - Y Xian Ho
- Dimagi, Inc, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Natali Carmio
- Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - John A Naslund
- Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Katherine Sanchez
- Patient and Community Engaged Research Center, Baylor Scott and White Research Institute, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Neal Lesh
- Dimagi, Inc, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Vikram Patel
- Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
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Ward K, Marimwe C, Parker MB, Dube LT. Towards integrated mental health services in low-income and middle-income countries: organisation of primary healthcare providers - a scoping review protocol. BMJ Open 2024; 14:e079854. [PMID: 38382953 PMCID: PMC10882400 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-079854] [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] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Mental health conditions constitute a significant percentage of the global burden of disease. A shortfall of mental health specialists and a lack of integration of services in primary care in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) contribute towards a mental health treatment gap in excess of 70%. Organising and equipping non-specialist healthcare workers is, therefore, an important strategy for improving access to mental health services in LMICs. This scoping review aims to map literature that addresses the organisation of and support provided to health teams in primary care settings within the context of integrated mental healthcare and as it relates to detection, treatment and referral of mental health conditions. The review will be guided by the 'Innovative Care for Chronic Conditions' framework. METHODS AND ANALYSIS This review protocol will employ the methodological framework first developed by Arksey and O'Malley and later advanced by others and will follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses extension for scoping reviews guidelines. This process will entail identifying the research questions, locating relevant literature, choosing eligible reports and studies, extracting the data and summarising the results in English-language studies and reports from 2008 to 2023 will be sourced from PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, PsycARTICLES, Scopus, Web of Science, Academic Search Complete and the WHO website. A two-stage screening of titles and abstracts, followed by full-text literature will be done in duplicate with blinded authors. Data extraction will be based on predefined fields. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION All literature accessed for this scoping review is in the public domain and thus, no approval from an ethics review board is required. The findings of the scoping review report will inform future mental health research in LMIC and will be disseminated to relevant stakeholders and published in a peer-reviewed journal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim Ward
- School of Pharmacy, University of the Western Cape, Belville, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Chipiwa Marimwe
- School of Pharmacy, University of the Western Cape, Belville, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Mariam B Parker
- School of Pharmacy, University of the Western Cape, Belville, Cape Town, South Africa
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Lin J, Zhao R, Li H, Lei Y, Cuijpers P. Looking back on life: An updated meta-analysis of the effect of life review therapy and reminiscence on late-life depression. J Affect Disord 2024; 347:163-174. [PMID: 37995927 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.11.050] [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] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Twenty years ago, we confirmed the effectiveness of life review therapy and reminiscence (LRT-REM) to treat late-life depression in a meta-analysis. In the current study, we aimed to examine the most updated evidence on the effects of LRT-REM in older adults with depression. METHODS We systematically searched records in English and Chinese databases up to December 2022 and included randomized controlled studies comparing LRT-REM with control conditions in older adults with depression. Outcomes included depression, anxiety, quality of life, and life satisfaction. Effect sizes (Hedges' g) at post-treatment were pooled with random effects meta-analyses. RESULTS 42 studies with 3361 depressed older adults (≥60 years) met the selection criteria. We found a significant and large effect of LRT-REM (g = 1.41, p < 0.001) on late-life depression, corresponding to a number-needed-to-treat (NNT) of 1.98. Heterogeneity shrunk from high (I2 = 86.78) to moderate (I2 = 46.87) after excluding eight detected outliers. There were no significant differences between the examined subgroups except for the type of control condition. The effects of LRT-REM were not statistically significant at follow-up when corrected for publication bias. The quality of many included studies was not optimal. LIMITATIONS The quality of many included studies was not optimal, with a high risk of bias. CONCLUSIONS LRT-REM may be effective for treating late-life depression, but long-term effects are unclear. More research is needed on the effects of LRT-REM, especially when guided by (para)professional or lay therapists in low- and middle-income countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyuan Lin
- The Institute of Brain and Psychological Science, Sichuan Normal University, China
| | - Ruiying Zhao
- Department of Clinical, Neuro and Developmental Psychology, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Hong Li
- The Institute of Brain and Psychological Science, Sichuan Normal University, China; School of Psychology, South China Normal University, China
| | - Yi Lei
- The Institute of Brain and Psychological Science, Sichuan Normal University, China.
| | - Pim Cuijpers
- Department of Clinical, Neuro and Developmental Psychology, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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Thekkumkara S, Rawat VS, Jagannathan A, Muliyala KP. Vocational rehabilitation in persons with mental illness in India: A scoping review. Int J Soc Psychiatry 2024; 70:13-22. [PMID: 37387462 DOI: 10.1177/00207640231183920] [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: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Employment has a therapeutic impact, enhances community integration and improves the quality of life of persons with mental illness (PwMI). Vocational rehabilitation (VR) models must be sensitive to existing needs and resources. Several VR models have been tested in high income countries. Mapping different VR models in India would help both practitioners and policymakers. AIM The study aimed to comprehensively review VR models tested among PwMI in India. METHODS We adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews extension for Scoping Reviews. We included interventional studies, case studies and grey literature carried out for the VR of PwMI in India. The search was done in PubMed, PsychInfo, worldwide science and Web of Science. Google Scholar was used to supplement the search. A Boolean search using MeSH terms was carried out for the period January 2000 to December 2022. RESULTS A total of twelve studies (one feasibility study, four case studies, four institute-based intervention studies and two studies reporting NGOs' role) were included in the final synthesis. The studies included in the review were either quasi-experimental studies or case based. Types of VR included supported employment or place and train or train and place models, case management and prevocational skills training. CONCLUSION Limited studies exist on VR in PwMI from India. Most studies assessed a restricted set of outcomes. The experiences of NGOs should be published so that practical challenges can be understood. There is a need for public-private partnerships in designing and testing services and should involve all the stakeholders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vikram Singh Rawat
- Department of Psychiatry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, India
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Mudiyanselage KWW, De Santis KK, Jörg F, Saleem M, Stewart R, Zeeb H, Busse H. The effectiveness of mental health interventions involving non-specialists and digital technology in low-and middle-income countries - a systematic review. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:77. [PMID: 38172713 PMCID: PMC10763181 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-17417-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Combining non-specialists and digital technologies in mental health interventions could decrease the mental healthcare gap in resource scarce countries. This systematic review examined different combinations of non-specialists and digital technologies in mental health interventions and their effectiveness in reducing the mental healthcare gap in low-and middle-income countries. METHODS Literature searches were conducted in four databases (September 2023), three trial registries (January-February 2022), and using forward and backward citation searches (May-June 2022). The review included primary studies on mental health interventions combining non-specialists and digital technologies in low-and middle-income countries. The outcomes were: (1) the mental health of intervention receivers and (2) the competencies of non-specialists to deliver mental health interventions. Data were expressed as standardised effect sizes (Cohen's d) and narratively synthesised. Risk of bias assessment was conducted using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tools for individual and cluster randomised and non-randomised controlled trials. RESULTS Of the 28 included studies (n = 32 interventions), digital technology was mainly used in non-specialist primary-delivery treatment models for common mental disorders or subthreshold symptoms. The competencies of non-specialists were improved with digital training (d ≤ 0.8 in 4/7 outcomes, n = 4 studies, 398 participants). The mental health of receivers improved through non-specialist-delivered interventions, in which digital technologies were used to support the delivery of the intervention (d > 0.8 in 24/40 outcomes, n = 11, 2469) or to supervise the non-specialists' work (d = 0.2-0.8 in 10/17 outcomes, n = 3, 3096). Additionally, the mental health of service receivers improved through digitally delivered mental health services with non-specialist involvement (d = 0.2-0.8 in 12/27 outcomes, n = 8, 2335). However, the overall certainty of the evidence was poor. CONCLUSION Incorporating digital technologies into non-specialist mental health interventions tended to enhance non-specialists' competencies and knowledge in intervention delivery, and had a positive influence on the severity of mental health problems, mental healthcare utilization, and psychosocial functioning outcomes of service recipients, primarily within primary-deliverer care models. More robust evidence is needed to compare the magnitude of effectiveness and identify the clinical relevance of specific digital functions. Future studies should also explore long-term and potential adverse effects and interventions targeting men and marginalised communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kalpani Wijekoon Wijekoon Mudiyanselage
- Faculty 11 Human and Health Sciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany.
- Department of Prevention and Evaluation, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology- BIPS, Bremen, Germany.
| | - Karina Karolina De Santis
- Department of Prevention and Evaluation, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology- BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Frederike Jörg
- Department of Psychiatry, Interdisciplinary Center Psychopathology and Emotion regulation, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
- Department of Education and Research, Friesland Mental Health Care Services, Leeuwarden, the Netherlands
| | - Maham Saleem
- Department of Prevention and Evaluation, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology- BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Roy Stewart
- Department of Health Sciences, Community & Occupational Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Hajo Zeeb
- Faculty 11 Human and Health Sciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
- Department of Prevention and Evaluation, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology- BIPS, Bremen, Germany
- Leibniz ScienceCampus Digital Public Health Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Heide Busse
- Department of Prevention and Evaluation, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology- BIPS, Bremen, Germany
- Leibniz ScienceCampus Digital Public Health Bremen, Bremen, Germany
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Ye F, Lee JJ, Xue D, Yu DSF. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Among Informal Caregivers of People With Chronic Health Conditions: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. JAMA Netw Open 2023; 6:e2346216. [PMID: 38051530 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.46216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Importance Although there is substantial evidence to suggest the health benefits of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) among informal caregivers of people with chronic health conditions, the great variation in intervention designs among published studies limits its application. Objectives To identify intervention characteristics of ACT that are associated with improved psychological health and to assess the acceptability of ACT among informal caregivers. Data Sources Seven English- and 3 Chinese-language databases without limits on publication dates, the reference lists of previous reviews, and gray literature were searched up to February 2023. Study Selection Randomized clinical trials comparing the effect of ACT vs control groups on improving psychological health among informal caregivers. Data Extraction and Synthesis Two reviewers independently screened searched records and extracted data from eligible studies. Random-effects meta-analysis and mixed-effects metaregression were performed. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guideline was followed. Main Outcomes and Measures Psychological health outcomes (eg, depressive symptoms) measured by valid measurements and the acceptability of ACT based on identified parameters. Results A total of 29 studies with 2010 participants, published between 2015 and 2023, were identified. ACT showed moderate to large effect sizes for improving psychological health at postintervention assessments (Hedges g range, -0.55 [95% CI, -0.98 to -0.12] to -1.14 [95% CI, -1.83 to -0.45]) and at 1-to-3-month and 4-to-6-month follow-ups (Hedges g range, -0.47 [95% CI, -0.69 to -0.25] to -1.29 [95% CI, -2.33 to -0.24]). Multivariable metaregression analysis regarding intervention characteristics found that ACT delivered in a mixed individual- and group-based format, face-to-face, or through more intervention sessions was associated with greater improvements for experiential avoidance (face-to-face: β = -1.170 [95% CI, -2.020 to -0.319]; number of sessions: β = -0.242 [95% CI, -0.353 to -0.130]), depressive symptoms (mixed delivery format: β = -2.583 [95% CI, -4.845 to -0.321]; face-to-face: β = -1.555 [95% CI, -3.002 to -0.108]), or anxiety symptoms (face-to-face: β = -1.241 [95% CI, -2.337 to -0.146]). In general, ACT had low attrition rates (11%), and participants' adherence (51%-80%) and satisfactory ratings (72%-95%) lend support to its acceptability. Conclusions and Relevance This systematic review and meta-analysis found that ACT was consistently associated with improvements in psychological health, supporting its application to improve informal care for chronic disease management. This review provides specific details on the design parameters of ACT for achieving greater efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fen Ye
- School of Nursing, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jung Jae Lee
- School of Nursing, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Dandan Xue
- School of Nursing, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Doris Sau-Fung Yu
- School of Nursing, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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Shaikh M, Eilender C, O'Brien M, O'Driscoll C. Exploring the efficacy of a low intensity psychological intervention for family members and carers of individuals with a first episode of psychosis in early intervention services. Early Interv Psychiatry 2023; 17:1087-1094. [PMID: 36647562 DOI: 10.1111/eip.13403] [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] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
AIM The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy, and explore carers' experience, of a brief carer focussed intervention in an Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) service using a mixed methods approach. METHODS Carers within EIP services were invited to have the intervention, comprising a psychoeducation and wellbeing component, and 153 carers completed routine outcome measures including the Brief Experience of Caregiving Inventory (BECI), The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWEBS) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) at baseline and after the completion of the intervention. Separately, nine carers took part in semi-structured interviews about their experience of the intervention. RESULTS The intervention resulted in improvement of overall well-being, a reduction in self-reported anxiety and caregiving experience relating to difficult behaviours and stigma/effects on the family. Overall, the carers' subjective experiences of the intervention were positive. Thematic analysis indicated epistemic trust indexed by the connection carers achieved with the service, an experience of being valued and of experiencing change through the intervention. CONCLUSION A short, 8 weeks intervention delivered by assistant psychologists, may offer an effective method for facilitating understanding of the illness and acclimatizing to new challenges. Exploring the effectiveness of psychoeducation and capturing this with specific measures may allow the service to make meaningful adaptations to their intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madiha Shaikh
- Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK
- Early Intervention in Psychosis Services, North East London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Cara Eilender
- Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Melanie O'Brien
- Early Intervention in Psychosis Services, North East London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Ciarán O'Driscoll
- Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK
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11
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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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12
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Kathree T, Bachmann M, Bhana A, Grant M, Mntambo N, Gigaba S, Kemp CG, Rao D, Petersen I. Management of Depression in Chronic Care Patients Using a Task-Sharing Approach in a Real-World Primary Health Care Setting in South Africa: Outcomes of a Cohort Study. Community Ment Health J 2023; 59:1261-1274. [PMID: 36964282 PMCID: PMC10447595 DOI: 10.1007/s10597-023-01108-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2023]
Abstract
Depressive symptoms are common in South African primary care patients with chronic medical conditions, but are usually unrecognised and untreated. This study evaluated an integrated, task-sharing collaborative approach to management of depression comorbid with chronic diseases in primary health care (PHC) patients in a real-world setting. Existing HIV clinic counsellors provided a manualised depression counselling intervention with stepped-up referral pathways to PHC doctors for initiation of anti-depressant medication and/ or referral to specialist mental health services. Using a comparative group cohort design, adult PHC patients in 10 PHC facilities were screened with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 with those scoring above the validated cut-off enrolled. PHC nurses independently assessed, diagnosed and referred patients. Referral for treatment was independently associated with substantial improvements in depression symptoms three months later. The study confirms the viability of task-shared stepped-up collaborative care for depression treatment using co-located counselling in underserved real-world PHC settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tasneem Kathree
- School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College, Mazisi Kunene Road, Durban, 4001 South Africa
- School of Applied Human Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College, Mazisi Kunene Road, Durban, 4001 South Africa
| | - Max Bachmann
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk, UK
| | - Arvin Bhana
- School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College, Mazisi Kunene Road, Durban, 4001 South Africa
- Health Systems Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, 491 Peter Mokaba Ridge Road, Overport, Durban, South Africa
| | - Merridy Grant
- School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College, Mazisi Kunene Road, Durban, 4001 South Africa
- School of Applied Human Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College, Mazisi Kunene Road, Durban, 4001 South Africa
| | - Ntokozo Mntambo
- School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College, Mazisi Kunene Road, Durban, 4001 South Africa
| | - Sithabisile Gigaba
- School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College, Mazisi Kunene Road, Durban, 4001 South Africa
- School of Applied Human Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College, Mazisi Kunene Road, Durban, 4001 South Africa
| | - C. G. Kemp
- Department of international health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Deepa Rao
- Department of Global Health, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, United States of America
| | - Inge Petersen
- School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College, Mazisi Kunene Road, Durban, 4001 South Africa
- School of Applied Human Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College, Mazisi Kunene Road, Durban, 4001 South Africa
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13
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Robinson N, Mahapatra A, Jean-Baptiste B, Mallard A, Yang A, Hollon SD, Ezawa ID. Cognitive Behavioral Immersion for Substance Use Disorders: A Feasibility and Pilot Study of a Peer-Based Coaching Program in the Metaverse. Games Health J 2023; 12:397-404. [PMID: 37294540 PMCID: PMC10541924 DOI: 10.1089/g4h.2022.0214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Cognitive Behavioral Immersion (CBI) is a novel cognitive-behavioral skills program delivered by lay coaches in the metaverse through immersive virtual reality technology. Objectives: The objective for this study was to run a feasibility and pilot study of CBI for individuals in recovery from a substance use disorder. Methods: Data from 48 participants were used and program usage was assessed. Participants were asked to complete questionnaires assessing affect, perceived online social support, and group therapy alliance throughout their participation in the program. Structured qualitative interviews were also conducted with a subset of participants (n = 11) to understand the feasibility of the novel program. Results: Participants experienced a significant increase in their positive affect and non-significant decrease in their negative affect during their most recently attended session. Participants also experienced a nonsignificant increase in online social support across their participation in the program. Structured qualitative interviews revealed eight primary themes, including both advantages (community, psychoeducational impact, immersion, comparability with other interventions, coping in the pandemic, and anonymity) and areas of improvement (challenges and technological usability) of the program. Conclusion: This study provides preliminary support for the feasibility and potential effects of CBI and its incorporation of lay coaches to lead cognitive-behavioral skills groups in the metaverse. Future research is encouraged to examine the feasibility and efficacy of this program for a broader array of clinical presentations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noah Robinson
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Anjali Mahapatra
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | | | - Austin Mallard
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Aaron Yang
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Steven D. Hollon
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Iony D. Ezawa
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
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14
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Lin Z, Cheng L, Han X, Wang H, Liao Y, Guo L, Shi J, Fan B, Teopiz KM, Jawad MY, Zhang H, Chen Y, Lu C, McIntyre RS. The Effect of Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Major Depressive Disorder: Randomized Controlled Trial. J Med Internet Res 2023; 25:e42786. [PMID: 37738092 PMCID: PMC10559190 DOI: 10.2196/42786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many people living with major depressive disorder (MDD) in China do not receive treatment owing to a lack of mental health services, along with significant stigma toward mental illness. Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT) has been proposed to increase access to mental health care for people with MDD. OBJECTIVE The aims of this study were to (1) evaluate the efficacy of ICBT for depressive symptoms in patients with MDD; (2) evaluate the effect of ICBT on anxiety symptoms, nonspecific psychological distress, general self-efficacy, depression stigma, social function, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL); and (3) explore the acceptability of and satisfaction with the ICBT program among participants. METHODS Patients with MDD were enrolled and randomized to the ICBT group or the waiting-list control (WLC) group. The ICBT group received ICBT delivered through a WeChat mini-program with general support by nonspecialists. Participants in the 2 groups were self-evaluated online at baseline and posttreatment for changes in the primary outcome (ie, depressive symptoms) and secondary outcomes (ie, anxiety symptoms, nonspecific psychological distress, general self-efficacy, depression stigma, social functional impairment, and HRQoL). Changes in outcomes were measured by changes in overall scores on respective scales, and response and remission rates were calculated based on depressive symptoms. The acceptability of and satisfaction with the ICBT program were measured by treatment adherence and participants' feelings (ie, modules seriously completed, perceived benefit, and satisfaction). RESULTS We included 40 patients who were randomly assigned to the ICBT group and 44 who were assigned to the WLC group. Compared with the WLC group, the ICBT group had fewer depressive symptoms, fewer anxiety symptoms, less nonspecific psychological distress, and greater general self-efficacy. Moreover, the ICBT group had higher response (18/31, 58%) and remission rates (17/31, 55%). The adherence rate in the ICBT group was 78% (31/40), and the majority of participants who completed all ICBT modules were satisfied with the ICBT program. CONCLUSIONS ICBT demonstrated greater improvements in depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, nonspecific psychological distress, and general self-efficacy among selected patients with MDD in comparison with the findings in waiting-list controls. The ICBT program in this study had good acceptability and satisfaction among participants. TRIAL REGISTRATION Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2100046425); https://tinyurl.com/bdcrj4zv.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyi Lin
- Department of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition and Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center of Nutrition Translation, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lu Cheng
- Department of Psychiatry, Shenzhen Nanshan Center for Chronic Disease Control, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xue Han
- Department of Psychiatry, Shenzhen Nanshan Center for Chronic Disease Control, Shenzhen, China
| | - Hongqiong Wang
- Department of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition and Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center of Nutrition Translation, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuhua Liao
- Department of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition and Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center of Nutrition Translation, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Psychiatry, Shenzhen Nanshan Center for Chronic Disease Control, Shenzhen, China
| | - Lan Guo
- Department of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition and Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center of Nutrition Translation, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jingman Shi
- Department of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition and Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center of Nutrition Translation, Guangzhou, China
| | - Beifang Fan
- Department of Psychiatry, Shenzhen Nanshan Center for Chronic Disease Control, Shenzhen, China
| | - Kayla M Teopiz
- Brain and Cognition Discovery Foundation, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Muhammad Youshay Jawad
- Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Huimin Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, Shenzhen Nanshan Center for Chronic Disease Control, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yan Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, Shenzhen Nanshan Center for Chronic Disease Control, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ciyong Lu
- Department of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition and Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center of Nutrition Translation, Guangzhou, China
| | - Roger S McIntyre
- Brain and Cognition Discovery Foundation, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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15
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Giusto A, Vander Missen MR, Kosgei G, Njiriri F, Puffer E, Kamaru Kwobah E, Barasa J, Turissini M, Rasmussen J, Ott M, Binayo J, Rono W, Jaguga F. Peer-delivered Problem-solving Therapy for Adolescent Mental Health in Kenya: Adaptation for Context and Training of Peer-counselors. Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol 2023; 51:1243-1256. [PMID: 37219680 PMCID: PMC10203666 DOI: 10.1007/s10802-023-01075-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Peer-delivered interventions for adolescent mental health can help address poor access to mental health interventions. Questions remain about how interventions can be adapted for peer delivery and whether peers can be trained. In this study, we adapted problem solving therapy (PST) for peer-delivery with adolescents in Kenya and explored whether peer counselors can be trained in PST. We adapted treatment prior to and during training using the Cultural Adaptation and Contextualization for Implementation framework. Nine peer counselors (Ages 20-24) were selected and trained over 10 days. Peer competencies and knowledge were measured pre-post using a written exam, a written case study, and role plays rated using a standardized competency measure. We chose a version of PST used in India with secondary school adolescents originally delivered by teachers. All materials were translated into Kiswahili. Language and format were adapted to Kenyan adolescents as well as for delivery by peers with a focus on understandability and relevance (e.g., noting shared experience). Metaphors, examples, and visual materials were adapted for the context to reflect the culture and vernacular of Kenyan youth. Peer counselors were able to be trained in PST. Pre-post competencies and understanding of content showed improvements with peers minimally meeting patient needs (pre) on average to moderate/fully meeting patient needs (post). Post-training written exam score showed an average 90% correct. There is an adapted version of PST for Kenyan adolescents and peer delivery. Peer counselors can be trained to deliver a 5-session PST in a community context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Giusto
- Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
| | | | - Gilliane Kosgei
- Department of Mental Health, Moi Teaching & Referral Hospital, Eldoret, Kenya
| | - Faith Njiriri
- Department of Mental Health, Moi Teaching & Referral Hospital, Eldoret, Kenya
| | - Eve Puffer
- Duke Global Health Institute, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
- Department of Neuroscience and Psychology, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | - Edith Kamaru Kwobah
- Department of Mental Health, Moi Teaching & Referral Hospital, Eldoret, Kenya
| | - Julius Barasa
- Department of Mental Health, Moi Teaching & Referral Hospital, Eldoret, Kenya
| | - Matthew Turissini
- Department of Medicine, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Justin Rasmussen
- Duke Global Health Institute, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
- Department of Neuroscience and Psychology, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | - Mary Ott
- Department of Medicine, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | | | - Wilter Rono
- Department of Mental Health, Moi Teaching & Referral Hospital, Eldoret, Kenya
| | - Florence Jaguga
- Department of Mental Health, Moi Teaching & Referral Hospital, Eldoret, Kenya
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16
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Hyseni Duraku Z, Jahiu G, Geci D. Intergenerational trauma and war-induced PTSD in Kosovo: insights from the Albanian ethnic group. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1195649. [PMID: 37637887 PMCID: PMC10449605 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1195649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction War has profound and deep-rooted ramifications for individuals and societies. War-induced post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is highly prevalent in Kosovo. This study aimed to obtain insights into the prevalence of perceived PTSD symptoms and their relation to the traumatic experiences of two generations: parents (survivors of the Kosovo War) and youth (children born after the Kosovo War), with an emphasis on the Albanian ethnic group. These experiences were then compared to understand intergenerational trauma. The study also aimed to identify the factors affecting PTSD prevalence, the role of social support, and the participants' experience with mental health services. Method A total of 237 Kosovar Albanians (121 parents, 116 youth) from all seven districts of Kosovo were included in this study. Study variables were measured using the PTSD Checklist, the Life Events Checklist, Criterion A, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Results The results revealed that the youth had significantly higher levels of perceived PTSD symptoms and lower levels of perceived support than their parents. Youth whose parents had PTSD were more prone to experiencing PTSD symptoms than those whose parents did not have PTSD. These youth also experienced significantly more traumatic situations, such as exposure to sudden violent death or accidental death, assault with a weapon, sexual assault, and captivity. Participants with perceived PTSD and lower perceived social support needed mental health interventions significantly more than those without PTSD symptoms. Discussion The findings emphasize the importance of addressing the intergenerational nature of PTSD and identifying factors affecting its prevalence, including social support and access to mental health services. The study underscores the need for a comprehensive approach to examine the complex and diverse nature of PTSD and its impact on individuals, families, and communities, especially in conflict-prone or conflict-affected societies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Genta Jahiu
- Department of Psychology, University of Prishtina “Hasan Prishtina”, Prishtina, Kosovo
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Mutedzi B, Nkhoma K, Langhaug L, Hunt J, Harding R. Improving bereavement outcomes in Zimbabwe: results of a feasibility cluster trial of the 9-cell bereavement tool. Pilot Feasibility Stud 2023; 9:127. [PMID: 37480142 PMCID: PMC10360285 DOI: 10.1186/s40814-023-01313-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023] Open
Abstract
CONTEXT Despite high mortality rates from both communicable and non-communicable diseases, bereavement is under-researched in African countries. The 9-cell bereavement tool was designed to assist individuals to reflect on their feelings about bereavement and identify resources in families and communities to manage bereavement. This study aimed to determine the feasibility of implementing the 9-cell bereavement tool and recruitment to experimental evaluation. METHODS A feasibility cluster randomized trial with embedded qualitative interviews was conducted in two comparable neighbourhoods in Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe. Community leaders identified potential community lay bereavement supporters (interventionists). Each community lay bereavement supporter recruited two to three recently bereaved community members (trial participants). Following baseline data collection, the communities were randomly allocated to intervention or wait-list control. Self-administered questionnaires were completed at T0 (month 0), T1 (3 months) and T2 (6 months). Grief, mental health and social support were assessed. Focus group discussions with selected interventionists described training impact and intervention processes. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were performed. RESULTS Implementation of the nine-cell bereavement tool and recruitment to experimental evaluation were successful. Implementation of the tool and the recruitment of study participants were conducted within the intended timeframe of 3 weeks. In line with the suggested sample size, the study was able to recruit and retain at least 75% of the trial participants for the total duration of the study. CONCLUSION The feasibility cluster trial was successfully implemented and assessed. Through the published protocol, the literature review and the results of this study, it has been noted that there is an urgent need to carry out a full trial in this subject matter, not only as a contribution to the currently sparse literature in this regard, but for the enormous potential public health benefit in supporting and saving lives in many more under-resourced and under-supported countries. TRIAL REGISTRATION Protocol registration: http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN16484746 . Protocol publication: https://pilotfeasibilitystudies.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40814-019-0450-5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Mutedzi
- Island Hospice and Healthcare, 6 Natal Road, Belgravia, Harare, Zimbabwe.
| | - Kennedy Nkhoma
- Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery and Palliative Care, Cicely Saunders Institute of Palliative Care, Policy and Rehabilitation, King's College London, Bessemer Road, London, SE5 9PJ, UK
| | - Lisa Langhaug
- Zvitambo Maternal and Child Health Research Institute, 16 McLaughlin Road, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | | | - Richard Harding
- Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery and Palliative Care, Cicely Saunders Institute of Palliative Care, Policy and Rehabilitation, King's College London, Bessemer Road, London, SE5 9PJ, UK
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Ezawa ID, Hollon SD, Robinson N. Examining Predictors of Depression and Anxiety Symptom Change in Cognitive Behavioral Immersion: Observational Study. JMIR Ment Health 2023; 10:e42377. [PMID: 37450322 PMCID: PMC10382949 DOI: 10.2196/42377] [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: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Depressive and anxiety disorders are the most common mental disorders, and there is a critical need for effective, affordable, and accessible interventions. Cognitive Behavioral Immersion (CBI) is a novel group-based cognitive behavioral skills training program delivered by lay coaches in the metaverse that can be accessed through various modalities including virtual reality (VR) head-mounted displays or flat-screen devices. Combining its ability to offer empirically supported therapy skills in a digital setting that can still facilitate interpersonal variables (eg, working alliance and sense of social support) with the aid of lay coaches, CBI has the potential to help fill this critical need. OBJECTIVE This study had 2 primary aims. First, we aimed to examine changes in depression and anxiety symptoms in a sample of individuals who participated in CBI. Second, we aimed to examine 2 interpersonal process variables (working alliance and web-based social support) as predictors of symptom changes. We predicted CBI participants would experience depression and anxiety symptom improvements and that such improvements would be associated with an increase in both interpersonal process variables. METHODS The study sample consists of 127 participants who endorsed clinical levels of depression or anxiety symptoms during their first CBI session and attended at least 2 sessions. Participants were asked to complete self-report measures of depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms, alliance, and web-based social support throughout their participation in CBI. RESULTS Repeated measures ANOVAs determined that depression and anxiety symptom scores differed significantly across sessions (Ps<.01). We also found participants' web-based social support predicted improvement in depression symptoms (P=.01), but neither the alliance nor web-based social support predicted change in anxiety symptoms (Ps>.05). We also observed a significant difference in anxiety symptoms between participants who used a VR head-mounted display to access CBI and those who did not, such that participants who used VR head-mounted displays endorsed lower anxiety symptoms than those who did not at nearly every session (P=.04). CONCLUSIONS Participation in CBI is associated with both depression and anxiety symptom improvement. Web-based social support may play an important role in fostering changes in depression symptoms. Future studies are encouraged to continue examining the process of change in CBI with special attention paid to methods that can elucidate causal mechanisms of change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iony D Ezawa
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Steven D Hollon
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Noah Robinson
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
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Donohue JF, Elborn JS, Lansberg P, Javed A, Tesfaye S, Rugo H, Duddi SRD, Jithoo N, Huang PH, Subramaniam K, Ramanjinappa N, Koltun A, Melamed S, Chan JCN. Bridging the "Know-Do" Gaps in Five Non-Communicable Diseases Using a Common Framework Driven by Implementation Science. J Healthc Leadersh 2023; 15:103-119. [PMID: 37416849 PMCID: PMC10320809 DOI: 10.2147/jhl.s394088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
According to the United Nations High-Level Meeting 2018, five non-communicable diseases (NCDs) including cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes mellitus, cancer, and mental health conditions accounted for two-thirds of global deaths. These five NCDs share five common risk factors including tobacco use, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, alcohol use, and air pollution. Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) face larger burden of NCDs than high-income countries (HICs), due to differences in ecological, technological, socioeconomic and health system development. Based on high-level evidence albeit mainly from HICs, the burden caused by NCDs can be reduced by affordable medicines and best practices. However, "know-do" gaps, ie, gaps between what we know in science and what we do in practice, has limited the impact of these strategies, especially in LMICs. Implementation science advocates the use of robust methodologies to evaluate sustainable solutions in health, education and social care aimed at informing practice and policies. In this article, physician researchers with expertise in NCDs reviewed the common challenges shared by these five NCDs with different clinical courses. They explained the principles of implementation science and advocated the use of an evidence-based framework to implement solutions focusing on early detection, prevention and empowerment, supplemented by best practices in HICs and LMICs. These successful stories can be used to motivate policymakers, payors, providers, patients and public to co-design frameworks and implement context-relevant, multi-component, evidence-based practices. In pursuit of this goal, we propose partnership, leadership, and access to continuing care as the three pillars in developing roadmaps for addressing the multiple needs during the journey of a person with or at risk of these five NCDs. By transforming the ecosystem, raising awareness and aligning context-relevant practices and policies with ongoing evaluation, it is possible to make healthcare accessible, affordable and sustainable to reduce the burden of these five NCDs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Afzal Javed
- Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Warwick, UK & Pakistan Psychiatric Research Centre, Coventry, UK
| | - Solomon Tesfaye
- Sheffield Teaching Hospitals and the University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Hope Rugo
- University of California San Francisco Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Sita Ratna Devi Duddi
- International Alliance of Patients’ Organisations, London, United Kingdom
- DakshamA Health and Education, Delhi, India
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Juliana C N Chan
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Institute of Diabetes and Obesity, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong, Special Administrative Regions of the People’s Republic of China
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Naït Salem R, Rotily M, Apostolidis T, Odena S, Lamouroux A, Chischportich C, Persico N, Auquier P. Health mediation: an intervention mode for improving emergency department care and support for patients living in precarious conditions. BMC Health Serv Res 2023; 23:495. [PMID: 37194100 PMCID: PMC10186303 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-09522-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Severe overcrowding of emergency departments (EDs) impacts the quality of healthcare. One factor of this overcrowding is precariousness, but it has rarely been considered a key factor in designing interventions to improve ED care. Health mediation (HM) aims to facilitate access to rights, prevention, and care for the most vulnerable persons and to raise awareness among healthcare providers about obstacles in accessing healthcare. We here present the results of an ancillary qualitative study to explore the prospects regarding a health mediation intervention implemented in EDs for deprived persons who are frequent ED users, from professionals' and patients' perspectives. METHODS Design, data collection, and data analysis were done according to a psychosocial approach, based on thematic content analysis and semi-structured interviews of 16 frequent ED users and deprived patients exposed to HM and of 14 professionals in 4 EDs of South-eastern France. RESULTS All patients reported multifactorial distress. Most of them expressed experiencing isolation and powerlessness, and lacking personal resources to cope with healthcare. They mentioned the use of ED as a way of quickly meeting a professional to respond to their suffering, and recognized the trustworthy alliance with health mediators (HMrs) as a means to put them back in a healthcare pathway. The presence of HMrs in EDs was appreciated by ED professionals because HMrs responded to requests they were not able to access and were perceived as an efficient support for caring for deprived persons in emergency contexts. CONCLUSIONS Our results are in favour of health mediation in EDs as a promising solution, requested by patients and ED professionals, to cope with frequent ED users and deprived patients. Our results could also be used to adapt other strategies for the most vulnerable populations to reduce the frequency of ED readmissions. At the interface of the patients' health experience and the medico-social sector, HM could complete the immediate responses to medical needs given in EDs and contribute in alleviating the social inequalities of health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riwan Naït Salem
- Laboratoire de Psychologie Sociale (LPS), Aix Marseille Université, Aix-en-Provence, France
| | - Michel Rotily
- Centre de Santé Universitaire - Espace Santé Aygalades - Assistance Publique Hopitaux de Marseille, Marseille, France.
- Centre d'Etudes et de Recherche sur les services de santé et la qualité de vie (CEReSS), Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France.
| | | | - Sophie Odena
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, LEST, Aix-en-Provence, France
| | - Aurore Lamouroux
- Centre de Santé Universitaire - Espace Santé Aygalades - Assistance Publique Hopitaux de Marseille, Marseille, France
| | | | - Nicolas Persico
- Service d'Accueil des Urgences Adultes, Hopital Nord, Assistance Publique Hopitaux de Marseille, Marseille, France
| | - Pascal Auquier
- Centre d'Etudes et de Recherche sur les services de santé et la qualité de vie (CEReSS), Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France
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Greene MC, Kane J, Alto M, Giusto A, Lovero K, Stockton M, McClendon J, Nicholson T, Wainberg ML, Johnson RM, Tol WA. Psychosocial and pharmacologic interventions to reduce harmful alcohol use in low- and middle-income countries. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2023; 5:CD013350. [PMID: 37158538 PMCID: PMC10167787 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd013350.pub2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Harmful alcohol use is defined as unhealthy alcohol use that results in adverse physical, psychological, social, or societal consequences and is among the leading risk factors for disease, disability and premature mortality globally. The burden of harmful alcohol use is increasing in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and there remains a large unmet need for indicated prevention and treatment interventions to reduce harmful alcohol use in these settings. Evidence regarding which interventions are effective and feasible for addressing harmful and other patterns of unhealthy alcohol use in LMICs is limited, which contributes to this gap in services. OBJECTIVES To assess the efficacy and safety of psychosocial and pharmacologic treatment and indicated prevention interventions compared with control conditions (wait list, placebo, no treatment, standard care, or active control condition) aimed at reducing harmful alcohol use in LMICs. SEARCH METHODS We searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) indexed in the Cochrane Drugs and Alcohol Group (CDAG) Specialized Register, the Cochrane Clinical Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) in the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and the Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS) through 12 December 2021. We searched clinicaltrials.gov, the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, Web of Science, and Opengrey database to identify unpublished or ongoing studies. We searched the reference lists of included studies and relevant review articles for eligible studies. SELECTION CRITERIA All RCTs comparing an indicated prevention or treatment intervention (pharmacologic or psychosocial) versus a control condition for people with harmful alcohol use in LMICs were included. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS We used standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane. MAIN RESULTS We included 66 RCTs with 17,626 participants. Sixty-two of these trials contributed to the meta-analysis. Sixty-three studies were conducted in middle-income countries (MICs), and the remaining three studies were conducted in low-income countries (LICs). Twenty-five trials exclusively enrolled participants with alcohol use disorder. The remaining 51 trials enrolled participants with harmful alcohol use, some of which included both cases of alcohol use disorder and people reporting hazardous alcohol use patterns that did not meet criteria for disorder. Fifty-two RCTs assessed the efficacy of psychosocial interventions; 27 were brief interventions primarily based on motivational interviewing and were compared to brief advice, information, or assessment only. We are uncertain whether a reduction in harmful alcohol use is attributable to brief interventions given the high levels of heterogeneity among included studies (Studies reporting continuous outcomes: Tau² = 0.15, Q =139.64, df =16, P<.001, I² = 89%, 3913 participants, 17 trials, very low certainty; Studies reporting dichotomous outcomes: Tau²=0.18, Q=58.26, df=3, P<.001, I² =95%, 1349 participants, 4 trials, very low certainty). The other types of psychosocial interventions included a range of therapeutic approaches such as behavioral risk reduction, cognitive-behavioral therapy, contingency management, rational emotive therapy, and relapse prevention. These interventions were most commonly compared to usual care involving varying combinations of psychoeducation, counseling, and pharmacotherapy. We are uncertain whether a reduction in harmful alcohol use is attributable to psychosocial treatments due to high levels of heterogeneity among included studies (Heterogeneity: Tau² = 1.15; Q = 444.32, df = 11, P<.001; I²=98%, 2106 participants, 12 trials, very low certainty). Eight trials compared combined pharmacologic and psychosocial interventions with placebo, psychosocial intervention alone, or another pharmacologic treatment. The active pharmacologic study conditions included disulfiram, naltrexone, ondansetron, or topiramate. The psychosocial components of these interventions included counseling, encouragement to attend Alcoholics Anonymous, motivational interviewing, brief cognitive-behavioral therapy, or other psychotherapy (not specified). Analysis of studies comparing a combined pharmacologic and psychosocial intervention to psychosocial intervention alone found that the combined approach may be associated with a greater reduction in harmful alcohol use (standardized mean difference (standardized mean difference (SMD))=-0.43, 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.61 to -0.24; 475 participants; 4 trials; low certainty). Four trials compared pharmacologic intervention alone with placebo and three with another pharmacotherapy. Drugs assessed were: acamprosate, amitriptyline, baclofen disulfiram, gabapentin, mirtazapine, and naltrexone. None of these trials evaluated the primary clinical outcome of interest, harmful alcohol use. Thirty-one trials reported rates of retention in the intervention. Meta-analyses revealed that rates of retention between study conditions did not differ in any of the comparisons (pharmacologic risk ratio (RR) = 1.13, 95% CI: 0.89 to 1.44, 247 participants, 3 trials, low certainty; pharmacologic in addition to psychosocial intervention: RR = 1.15, 95% CI: 0.95 to 1.40, 363 participants, 3 trials, moderate certainty). Due to high levels of heterogeneity, we did not calculate pooled estimates comparing retention in brief (Heterogeneity: Tau² = 0.00; Q = 172.59, df = 11, P<.001; I2 = 94%; 5380 participants; 12 trials, very low certainty) or other psychosocial interventions (Heterogeneity: Tau² = 0.01; Q = 34.07, df = 8, P<.001; I2 = 77%; 1664 participants; 9 trials, very low certainty). Two pharmacologic trials and three combined pharmacologic and psychosocial trials reported on side effects. These studies found more side effects attributable to amitriptyline relative to mirtazapine, naltrexone and topiramate relative to placebo, yet no differences in side effects between placebo and either acamprosate or ondansetron. Across all intervention types there was substantial risk of bias. Primary threats to validity included lack of blinding and differential/high rates of attrition. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS In LMICs there is low-certainty evidence supporting the efficacy of combined psychosocial and pharmacologic interventions on reducing harmful alcohol use relative to psychosocial interventions alone. There is insufficient evidence to determine the efficacy of pharmacologic or psychosocial interventions on reducing harmful alcohol use largely due to the substantial heterogeneity in outcomes, comparisons, and interventions that precluded pooling of these data in meta-analyses. The majority of studies are brief interventions, primarily among men, and using measures that have not been validated in the target population. Confidence in these results is reduced by the risk of bias and significant heterogeneity among studies as well as the heterogeneity of results on different outcome measures within studies. More evidence on the efficacy of pharmacologic interventions, specific types of psychosocial interventions are needed to increase the certainty of these results.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Claire Greene
- Program on Forced Migration and Health, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jeremy Kane
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Michelle Alto
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Ali Giusto
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University/NYSPI, New York, New York, USA
| | - Kathryn Lovero
- Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Melissa Stockton
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University/NYSPI, New York, New York, USA
| | - Jasmine McClendon
- Department of Psychiatry, UC Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CALIFORNIA, USA
| | - Terriann Nicholson
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University/NYSPI, New York, New York, USA
| | - Milton L Wainberg
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University/NYSPI, New York, New York, USA
| | - Renee M Johnson
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Wietse Anton Tol
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Peter C. Alderman Program for Global Mental Health, HealthRight International, New York, USA
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Mavragani A, Johnson C, Kiche S, Dastrup K, Nguyen J, Daniels A, Mbwayo A, Amanya C, Munson S, Collins PY, Weiner BJ, Dorsey S. Understanding Lay Counselor Perspectives on Mobile Phone Supervision in Kenya: Qualitative Study. JMIR Form Res 2023; 7:e38822. [PMID: 36729591 PMCID: PMC9936369 DOI: 10.2196/38822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Task shifting is an effective model for increasing access to mental health treatment via lay counselors with less specialized training that deliver care under supervision. Mobile phones may present a low-technology opportunity to replace or decrease reliance on in-person supervision in task shifting, but important technical and contextual limitations must be examined and considered. OBJECTIVE Guided by human-centered design methods, we aimed to understand how mobile phones are currently used when supervising lay counselors, determine the acceptability and feasibility of mobile phone supervision, and generate solutions to improve mobile phone supervision. METHODS Participants were recruited from a large hybrid effectiveness implementation study in western Kenya wherein teachers and community health volunteers were trained to provide trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy. Lay counselors (n=24) and supervisors (n=3) participated in semistructured interviews in the language of the participants' choosing (ie, English or Kiswahili). Lay counselor participants were stratified by supervisor-rated frequency of mobile phone use such that interviews included high-frequency, average-frequency, and low-frequency phone users in equal parts. Supervisors rated lay counselors on frequency of phone contact (ie, calls and SMS text messages) relative to their peers. The interviews were transcribed, translated when needed, and analyzed using thematic analysis. RESULTS Participants described a range of mobile phone uses, including providing clinical updates, scheduling and coordinating supervision and clinical groups, and supporting research procedures. Participants liked how mobile phones decreased burden, facilitated access to clinical and personal support, and enabled greater independence of lay counselors. Participants disliked how mobile phones limited information transmission and relationship building between supervisors and lay counselors. Mobile phone supervision was facilitated by access to working smartphones, ease and convenience of mobile phone supervision, mobile phone literacy, and positive supervisor-counselor relationships. Limited resources, technical difficulties, communication challenges, and limitations on which activities can be effectively performed via mobile phone were barriers to mobile phone supervision. Lay counselors and supervisors generated 27 distinct solutions to increase the acceptability and feasibility of mobile phone supervision. Strategies ranged in terms of the resources required and included providing phones and airtime to support supervision, identifying quiet and private places to hold mobile phone supervision, and delineating processes for requesting in-person support. CONCLUSIONS Lay counselors and supervisors use mobile phones in a variety of ways; however, there are distinct challenges to their use that must be addressed to optimize acceptability, feasibility, and usability. Researchers should consider limitations to implementing digital health tools and design solutions alongside end users to optimize the use of these tools. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) RR2-10.1186/s43058-020-00102-9.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Clara Johnson
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Sharon Kiche
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Kara Dastrup
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Julie Nguyen
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Alayna Daniels
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Anne Mbwayo
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Sean Munson
- Human Centered Design & Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Pamela Y Collins
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.,Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Bryan J Weiner
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.,Department of of Health Services, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Shannon Dorsey
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
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Seward N, Vansteelandt S, Moreno-Agostino D, Patel V, Araya R. Understanding the effects of a complex psychological intervention on symptoms of depression in Goa, India: findings from a causal mediation analysis. Br J Psychiatry 2023; 222:67-73. [PMID: 36004665 PMCID: PMC10895505 DOI: 10.1192/bjp.2022.116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding how and under what circumstances a highly effective psychological intervention, improved symptoms of depression is important to maximise its clinical effectiveness. AIMS To address this complexity, we estimate the indirect effects of potentially important mediators to improve symptoms of depression (measured with the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)) in the Healthy Activity Program trial. METHOD Interventional in(direct) effects were used to decompose the total effect of the intervention on PHQ-9 scores into the direct and indirect effects. The following indirect effects were considered: characteristics of sessions, represented by the number of sessions and homework completed; behavioural activation, according to an adapted version of the Behavioural Activation for Depression Scale - Short Form; and extra sessions offered to participants who did not respond to the intervention. RESULTS Of the total effect of the intervention measured through the difference in PHQ-9 scores between treatment arms (mean difference: -2.1, bias-corrected 95% CI -3.2 to -1.5), 34% was mediated through improved levels of behavioural activation (mean difference: -0.7, bias-corrected 95% CI -1.2 to -0.4). There was no evidence to support the mediating role of characteristics of the sessions nor the extra sessions offered to participants who did not respond to the treatment. CONCLUSIONS Findings from our robust mediation analyses confirmed the importance of targeting behavioural activation. Contrary to published literature, our findings suggest that neither the number of sessions nor proportion of homework completed improved outcomes. Moreover, in this context, alternative treatments other than extra sessions should be considered for patients who do not respond to the intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Seward
- Centre for Global Mental Health, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, UK; and Centre for Implementation Science, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Stijn Vansteelandt
- Department of Applied Mathematics, Computer Science and Statistics, Ghent University, Belgium; and Department of Medical Statistics, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK
| | - Darío Moreno-Agostino
- Centre for Global Mental Health, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, UK; and Centre for Longitudinal Studies, UCL Social Research Institute, University College London, UK
| | - Vikram Patel
- Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ricardo Araya
- Centre for Global Mental Health, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
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Woodard GS, Mraz A, Renn BN. Perspectives of Nonspecialists Delivering a Brief Depression Treatment in the United States: A Qualitative Investigation. BMC Psychiatry 2023; 23:32. [PMID: 36639746 PMCID: PMC9839228 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-023-04528-y] [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: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Task sharing is an implementation strategy which increases access to services by training and supporting treatment delivery by nonspecialists. Such an approach has demonstrated effectiveness for depression and other mental health outcomes; however, few studies in high-income countries have examined nonspecialist providers' (NSPs) perspectives of the acceptability, feasibility, and appropriateness of delivering mental health interventions. We examine qualitative reports of NSPs experiences delivering a brief structured behavioral intervention for depression (called "Do More, Feel Better" [DMFB]) to adults aged 55 and older. METHODS All NSPs (N = 4, 100%) who delivered DMFB participated in a focus group to probe their perceptions of the acceptability, feasibility, and appropriateness of both the intervention and their delivery experience as NSPs. Two coders analyzed the qualitative data from focus groups using codebook thematic analysis. RESULTS NSPs perceived the intervention and delivery experience to be acceptable, feasible, and appropriate. Qualitative results provided insight into specific barriers and facilitators which may be important to consider when planning to implement task sharing. Themes that emerged from qualitative data included supervision being highly acceptable and feasible, appropriateness of the intervention for NSPs, and the feasibility of tailoring the intervention to patient participants. NSPs also expressed difficulty managing emotional investment in patients' success and providing therapy during a pandemic and racial violence in the US. CONCLUSIONS Our results can inform future implementation and sustainment of task sharing interventions to expand access to care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace S. Woodard
- grid.26790.3a0000 0004 1936 8606Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida USA
| | - Amanda Mraz
- grid.272362.00000 0001 0806 6926Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 4505 South Maryland Parkway, MS 5030, Las Vegas, Nevada 89154-5030 USA
| | - Brenna N. Renn
- grid.272362.00000 0001 0806 6926Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 4505 South Maryland Parkway, MS 5030, Las Vegas, Nevada 89154-5030 USA
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Girase B, Parikh R, Vashisht S, Mullick A, Ambhore V, Maknikar S. India's policy and programmatic response to mental health of young people: A narrative review. SSM - MENTAL HEALTH 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmmh.2022.100145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
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Moodley SV, Wolvaardt J, Grobler C. Enabling mental health task-sharing: a collective case study of undergraduate clinical associate training programmes in South Africa. BMC MEDICAL EDUCATION 2022; 22:745. [PMID: 36307798 PMCID: PMC9615622 DOI: 10.1186/s12909-022-03806-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a shortage of the human resources needed to deliver mental health services which is likely to be exacerbated by COVID-19. Due to mental health workforce shortages, task-shifting and task-sharing approaches have been implemented in a number of countries. Clinical associates, a mid-level cadre working under the supervision of medical practitioners, could play a role in delivering mental health services but it is not clear if they are adequately prepared. This study explored the mental health curriculum content of the undergraduate clinical associate training programmes in South Africa and the views of key informants of the adequacy of training in mental health. METHODS A qualitative collective case study approach was utilised for this multisite study at the three universities in South Africa offering clinical associate degrees. The study consisted of in-depth interviews utilising videoconferencing of individuals involved in each programme and a document review. Thematic analysis of the data was conducted. RESULTS Nineteen interviews were conducted. Mental health formed part of the curriculum in all three programmes with the bulk of the training taking place in the final year of the three-year degree. Facility-based training ranged from two weeks to four weeks with one university only using hospitals with mental health units while two universities used hospitals at which the students were based for the year regardless of potential mental health exposure they would receive. The list of curricula inclusions extended to seldom-seen conditions. The quality of training and supervision appeared site-dependant and only one university set minimum experiential targets. CONCLUSION There is a basis on which to build the competencies and skills regarding mental health in this cadre. A training model that integrates mental health early in the undergraduate curriculum, focuses on common conditions and those with high disease burden, includes time in a mental health unit, provides facility-based trainers with detailed guidance to improve standardisation, and includes specific experiential targets that are monitored will enhance the potential utility of this cadre.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jacqueline Wolvaardt
- School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Christoffel Grobler
- School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
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Hamdani SU, Huma ZE, Wissow LS. Technology-assisted task-sharing to bridge the treatment gap for childhood developmental disorders in rural Pakistan: an implementation science case study. Implement Sci Commun 2022; 3:99. [PMID: 36109792 PMCID: PMC9479305 DOI: 10.1186/s43058-022-00343-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background As in many low-income countries, the treatment gap for developmental disorders in Pakistan is nearly 100%. The World Health Organization (WHO) has developed the mental Health Gap Intervention guide (mhGAP-IG) to train non-specialists in the delivery of evidence-based mental health interventions in low-resource settings. However, a key challenge to scale-up of non-specialist-delivered interventions is designing training programs that promote fidelity at scale in low-resource settings. In this case study, we report the experience of using a tablet device-based application to train non-specialist, female family volunteers in leading a group parent skills training program, culturally adapted from the mhGAP-IG, with fidelity at scale in rural community settings of Pakistan. Methods The implementation evaluation was conducted as a part of the mhGAP-IG implementation in the pilot sub-district of Gujar Khan. Family volunteers used a technology-assisted approach to deliver the parent skills training in 15 rural Union Councils (UCs). We used the Proctor and RE-AIM frameworks in a mixed-methods design to evaluate the volunteers’ competency and fidelity to the intervention. The outcome was measured with the ENhancing Assessment of Common Therapeutic factors (ENACT), during training and program implementation. Data on other implementation outcomes including intervention dosage, acceptability, feasibility, appropriateness, and reach was collected from program trainers, family volunteers, and caregivers of children 6 months post-program implementation. Qualitative and quantitative data were analyzed using the framework and descriptive analysis, respectively. Results We trained 36 volunteers in delivering the program using technology. All volunteers were female with a mean age of 39 (± 4.38) years. The volunteers delivered the program to 270 caregivers in group sessions with good fidelity (scored 2.5 out of 4 on each domain of the fidelity measure). More than 85% of the caregivers attended 6 or more of 9 sessions. Quantitative analysis showed high levels of acceptability, feasibility, appropriateness, and reach of the program. Qualitative results indicated that the use of tablet device-based applications, and the cultural appropriateness of the adapted intervention content, contributed to the successful implementation of the program. However, barriers faced by family volunteers like community norms and family commitments potentially limited their mobility to deliver the program and impacted the program’ reach. Conclusions Technology can be used to train non-specialist family volunteers in delivering evidence-based intervention at scale with fidelity in low-resource settings of Pakistan. However, cultural and gender norms should be considered while involving females as volunteer lay health workers for the implementation of mental health programs in low-resource settings. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s43058-022-00343-w.
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Nadkarni A, Bhatia U, Bedendo A, de Paula TCS, de Andrade Tostes JG, Segura-Garcia L, Tiburcio M, Andréasson S. Brief interventions for alcohol use disorders in low- and middle-income countries: barriers and potential solutions. Int J Ment Health Syst 2022; 16:36. [PMID: 35934695 PMCID: PMC9358825 DOI: 10.1186/s13033-022-00548-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Global alcohol consumption and harmful use of alcohol is projected to increase in the coming decades, and most of the increase will occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs); which calls for cost-effective measures to reduce alcohol exposure in these countries. One such evidence based measure is screening and brief intervention (BI) for alcohol problems. Some of the characteristics of BI make them a particularly appealing choice of interventions in low-resource settings. However, despite evidence of effectiveness, implementation of BI in LMICs is rare. In this paper we discuss barriers to implementation of BI in LMICs, with examples from Latin America and India. Key barriers to implementation of BI in LMICs are the lack of financial and structural resources. Specialized services for alcohol use disorders are limited or non-existent. Hence primary care is often the only possible alternative to implement BI. However, health professionals in such settings generally lack training to deal with these disorders. In our review of BI research in these countries, we find some promising results, primarily in countries from Latin America, but so far there is limited research on effectiveness. Appropriate evaluation of efficacy and effectiveness of BI is undermined by lack of generalisability and methodological limitations. No systematic and scientific efforts to explore the implementation and evaluation of BI in primary and community platforms of care have been published in India. Innovative strategies need to be deployed to overcome supply side barriers related to specialist manpower shortages in LMICs. There is a growing evidence on the effectiveness of non-specialist health workers, including lay counsellors, in delivering frontline psychological interventions for a range of disorders including alcohol use disorders in LMICs. This paper is intended to stimulate discussion among researchers, practitioners and policy-makers in LMICs because increasing access to evidence based care for alcohol use disorders in LMICs would need a concerted effort from all these stakeholders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhijit Nadkarni
- Centre for Global Mental Health (CGMH), Department of Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK. .,Addictions Research Group, Sangath, Porvorim, Goa, India.
| | - Urvita Bhatia
- Addictions Research Group, Sangath, Porvorim, Goa, India.,Department of Psychology, Health and Professional Development at Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
| | - Andre Bedendo
- Department of Psychobiology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Sao Paulo, Brazil.,Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of York, York, UK
| | | | - Joanna Gonçalves de Andrade Tostes
- Center for Research, Intervention and Evaluation on Alcohol & Drugs (CREPEIA), Department of Psychology, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (UFJF), Juiz de Fora, Brazil
| | - Lidia Segura-Garcia
- Program on Substance Abuse, Public Health Agency of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain.,Clincal Psychology and Health Department, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marcela Tiburcio
- Department of Social Sciences in Health, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Sven Andréasson
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Naithani L, Goldie C, Kaur A, Butter C, Lakhera S, Leadbitter K, Divan G. Early Autism Intervention Components Deliverable by Non-specialists in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Scoping Review. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:914750. [PMID: 35845443 PMCID: PMC9277121 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.914750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction The past decade has seen key advances in early intervention for autistic children in high-income countries, with most evidence based on specialist delivery of interventions. The care gap seen in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) remains close to 100%. A key challenge in addressing this care gap concerns the paucity of specialists available to deliver services. Task-sharing provides an important potential solution; there is a need to identify interventions that are suitable for scaled-up delivery through task-sharing in low-resourced settings. We aimed to conduct a scoping review to identify studies which reported autism intervention delivered by non-specialists within LMIC and, using established frameworks, specify intervention components with evidence of successful non-specialist delivery. Methods A scoping literature search, conducted within four databases, generated 2,535 articles. Duplicates were removed, followed by screening of titles and abstracts, with 10% double-rated for reliability. 50 full text articles were then screened independently by two raters. Articles were included if studies: (a) were conducted in LMIC; (b) included samples of autistic children (age < 10); (c) evaluated psycho-social interventions delivered by non-specialists; (d) reported child outcomes; and (e) were peer-reviewed full-texts in English. Two established frameworks - @Practicewise and NDBI-Fi framework - were then used to ascertain the commonly delivered components of these interventions. Results Two studies met the inclusion criteria. Both studies evaluated parent-mediated interventions delivered by non-specialists in South Asia. Through the two frameworks, we identified elements and techniques that had been delivered successfully by non-specialists. Conclusion There is evidence from two acceptability and feasibility trials that non-specialists can be trained to deliver some intervention elements and techniques within parent-mediated interventions, with good fidelity and acceptability and evidence of effectiveness. The review points up the lack of a widespread evidence base in this area and need for further research in low resourced settings, including well-powered trials and mechanistic analyses to identify active ingredients. A focus on the pre-requisites for non-specialist delivery is critical to reduce inequity and provide universal health coverage within resource-constrained health systems.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Caitlin Goldie
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | | | - Charlotte Butter
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | | | - Kathy Leadbitter
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
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"Not shifting, but sharing": stakeholders' perspectives on mental health task-shifting in Indonesia. BMC Nurs 2022; 21:165. [PMID: 35751061 PMCID: PMC9229425 DOI: 10.1186/s12912-022-00945-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Task-shifting, the distribution of tasks among health workers to address health workforce shortage, has been widely used to tackle mental health treatment gaps. However, its implementation in Indonesia has still been rarely explored. This study aimed to explore stakeholders’ perspectives on the implementation of mental health task-shifting to nurses in Indonesia's primary health care. Methods An exploratory descriptive approach using in-depth interviews and focused group discussions (FGDs) was used. The study involved 19 stakeholders from the government's ministry directorates, professional organisations, and mental health practitioners. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Results Three themes emerged namely, task-shifting feasibility and acceptability, shared task implementation, and nurse role enhancement issues, with 14 sub-themes. Conclusions Task-shifting on mental health issues in the eye of Indonesian stakeholders is viewed as a matter of sharing and collaboration. Implementation of task-shifting in Indonesia may require policies in place and political will across stakeholders. Further scrutiny on task-shifting implementation is needed by considering the local context and national environment.
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Karyotaki E, Araya R, Kessler RC, Waqas A, Bhana A, Rahman A, Matsuzaka CT, Miguel C, Lund C, Garman EC, Nakimuli-Mpungu E, Petersen I, Naslund JA, Schneider M, Sikander S, Jordans MJD, Abas M, Slade P, Walters S, Brugha TS, Furukawa TA, Amanvermez Y, Mello MF, Wainberg ML, Cuijpers P, Patel V. Association of Task-Shared Psychological Interventions With Depression Outcomes in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Individual Patient Data Meta-analysis. JAMA Psychiatry 2022; 79:430-443. [PMID: 35319740 PMCID: PMC8943620 DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2022.0301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Importance Task sharing, the training of nonspecialist workers with no formal experience in counseling, is a promising strategy for addressing the large gap in treatment for depression in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Objective To examine the outcomes and moderators of task-shared psychological interventions associated with depression severity, response, and remission. Data Sources Systematic literature searches in PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library up to January 1, 2021. Study Selection Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of task-shared psychological interventions compared with control conditions for adults with depressive symptoms in LMICs were included. Data Extraction and Synthesis Two researchers independently reviewed the titles, abstracts, and full text of articles from an existing generic meta-analytic database that includes all RCTs on psychotherapy for depression. A systematic review and individual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis was used to estimate the outcomes of task-shared psychological interventions across patient characteristics using mixed-effects models. Procedures for abstracting data and assessing data quality and validity followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses reporting guideline. Main Outcomes and Measures Primary outcome was reduction in depression symptom severity measured by the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Response and remission rates were also estimated. Results Of 13 eligible trials, 11 (4145 participants) contributed IPD. Task-shared psychological interventions were associated with a greater decrease in depressive symptom severity than control conditions (Hedges g, 0.32; 95% CI, -0.26 to -0.38). Participants in the intervention groups had a higher chance of responding (odds ratio, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.60 to 2.80) and remitting (odds ratio, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.20 to 1.99). The presence of psychomotor symptoms was significantly associated with the outcomes of task-shared psychological interventions (β [SE], -1.21 [0.39]; P = .002). No other significant associations were identified. Heterogeneity among the trials with IPD was 74% (95% CI, 53%-86%). Conclusions and Relevance In this meta-analysis of IPD, task-shared psychological interventions were associated with a larger reduction in depressive symptom severity and a greater chance of response and remission than control conditions. These findings show potential for the use of task-sharing of psychological interventions across different groups of patients with depression. Further research would help identify which people are most likely to benefit and strengthen larger-scale implementation of this strategy to address the burden of depression in LMICs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eirini Karyotaki
- Department of Clinical Neuro- and Developmental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ricardo Araya
- Center for Global Mental Health and Primary Care Research, Health Service and Population Research, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ronald C. Kessler
- Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ahmed Waqas
- Institute of Population Health Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Arvin Bhana
- Centre for Rural Health, School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
- Health Systems Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Atif Rahman
- Institute of Psychology, Health and Society, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Camila T. Matsuzaka
- Department of Psychiatry, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Clara Miguel
- Department of Clinical Neuro- and Developmental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Crick Lund
- Center for Global Mental Health and Primary Care Research, Health Service and Population Research, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Emily C. Garman
- Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | - Inge Petersen
- Centre for Rural Health, School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - John A. Naslund
- Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Marguerite Schneider
- Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Siham Sikander
- Human Development Research Foundation, Islamabad, Pakistan
- Health Services Academy, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Mark J. D. Jordans
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Melanie Abas
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Pauline Slade
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen Walters
- School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Traolach S. Brugha
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Toshi A. Furukawa
- Departments of Health Promotion and Human Behaviour and of Clinical Epidemiology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, School of Public Health, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yagmur Amanvermez
- Department of Clinical Neuro- and Developmental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Marcelo F. Mello
- Department of Psychiatry, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Albert Einstein Israelite Hospital, Medicine School, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Milton L. Wainberg
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York
| | - Pim Cuijpers
- Department of Clinical Neuro- and Developmental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Vikram Patel
- Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
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Larrieta J, Miguel Esponda G, Gandhi Y, Simpson N, Biriotti M, Kydd A, Eaton J, Ryan GK. Supporting community-based mental health initiatives: insights from a multi-country programme and recommendations for funders. BMJ Glob Health 2022; 7:e008906. [PMID: 35537763 PMCID: PMC9092131 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2022-008906] [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: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Community-based mental health initiatives are uniquely positioned to understand the mental health needs of their local population and provide relevant, culturally appropriate and sustainable responses. However, at the grassroots level, mental health initiatives in low- and middle-income countries face key challenges, such as inadequate funding, barriers to demonstrating impact and difficulty engaging with stakeholders. The Ember Mental Health programme establishes 12-month partnerships with community-based mental health initiatives in low- and middle-income countries to support them to address these challenges, grow and achieve sustainability. This paper outlines a longitudinal qualitative study conducted to evaluate the 2020-2021 Ember Mental Health programme. Data were collected from March 2020 to March 2021 through semistructured interviews conducted with 11 initiatives at various time points throughout their Ember Mental Health partnership. A framework approach was used to analyse all data in its original language. Findings indicated that initiatives particularly benefited from provision of side-by-side mentorship; opportunities for skills strengthening and strategic thinking; occasions to network with other like-minded initiatives and/or experts in global mental health; and support on team empowerment and well-being. Based on these findings, we put forward various recommendations for funders and other stakeholders working to support community-based mental health initiatives in low- and middle-income countries. Through establishing collaborative partnerships that challenge more top-down, traditional funder-grantee relationships, it is possible to support the rich ecosystem of initiatives working to address the mental health needs of communities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Georgina Miguel Esponda
- SHM Foundation, London, UK
- Health Services and Population Research, King's College London, London, UK
- ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health, King's College London, London, UK
| | | | - Nikita Simpson
- SHM Foundation, London, UK
- London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK
| | | | | | - Julian Eaton
- Centre for Global Mental Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- CBM Global Disability and Inclusion, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Grace Kathryn Ryan
- Centre for Global Mental Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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Vostanis P, Ruby F, Jacob J, Eruyar Ş, Mironga Getanda E, Haffejee S, Krishna M, Edbrooke-Childs J. Youth and professional perspectives of mental health resources across eight countries. CHILDREN AND YOUTH SERVICES REVIEW 2022; 136:106439. [PMID: 35521438 PMCID: PMC8972066 DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2022.106439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2022] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Youth mental health support and services vary across sociocultural contexts. It is important to capture the perspectives of youth with lived experiences for planning needs-led interventions and services, especially in Global South Countries (GSC), with limited specialist resources and representative literature. METHODS The aim was to establish how youth with lived experiences of anxiety and depression viewed external support in different countries, and how these views were juxtaposed with those of professionals. We involved 121 youth aged 14-24 years and 62 professionals from different disciplines in eight countries, predominantly from the Global South. Two youth and one professional focus group was facilitated in each country. The data were analysed through a codebook thematic approach. RESULTS Youth across all countries largely valued informal support from family, peers and community, whilst those from GSC had limited access to structural support. They related lived experiences to therapeutic engagement and processes, in contrast with professionals who focused on outcomes and service delivery. Mental health awareness and integration of interventions with social support were considered essential by both youth and professionals, especially in disadvantaged communities. CONCLUSION The mental health needs of youth in disadvantaged GSC communities can be best met through multi-modal interventions addressing these needs across their socioecology and positioned within a stepped care model. Youth with lived experiences should be involved in service planning, implementation and monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panos Vostanis
- University of Leicester, School of Media, Communication and Sociology, University Road, Leicester, UK
| | - Florence Ruby
- Anna Freud Centre, Child Outcomes Research Consortium, 4-8 Rodney Street, London N1 9JH, UK
| | - Jenna Jacob
- Anna Freud Centre, Child Outcomes Research Consortium, 4-8 Rodney Street, London N1 9JH, UK
| | - Şeyda Eruyar
- Necmettin Erbakan University, Department of Psychology, Köyceğiz 42140 Meram, Konya, Turkey
| | | | - Sadiyya Haffejee
- University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park, Johannesburg 2092, South Africa
| | - Murali Krishna
- FRAMe Mysore, New Kanthraj Urs Road, Kuvempunagar, Mysore 570023, India
| | - Julian Edbrooke-Childs
- Anna Freud Centre, Child Outcomes Research Consortium, 4-8 Rodney Street, London N1 9JH, UK
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Perera C, Aldamman K, Hansen M, Haahr-Pedersen I, Caballero-Bernal J, Caldas-Castañeda ON, Chaparro-Plata Y, Dinesen C, Wiedemann N, Vallières F. A brief psychological intervention for improving the mental health of venezuelan migrants and refugees: A mixed-methods study. SSM - MENTAL HEALTH 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmmh.2022.100109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
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Vostanis P, Eruyar S, Hassan S, AlOwaybil R, O'Reilly M. Application of digital child mental health training to improve capacity in majority world countries: Professional perspectives from Turkey and Pakistan. Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry 2022; 27:439-454. [PMID: 34569308 PMCID: PMC9047166 DOI: 10.1177/13591045211046809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Digital technology offers opportunities for child mental health capacity building, which is a priority for Majority World Countries (MWC). The aim of this study was to explore the experiences and perspectives of professionals from different disciplines in Turkey (n=12) and Pakistan (n=15), who had completed a two-module digital trauma-informed programme on enhancing practice skills and instigating systemic changes. Interview data were analysed through a coding thematic approach. Participants especially valued the interdisciplinary and holistic approach of the training, and its proposed scaled service model. Digital training, particularly in blended format, can enhance reach and capacity in MWC low-resource settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panos Vostanis
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology and Behaviour, 4488University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Seyda Eruyar
- Department of Psychology, 226846Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey
| | | | - Reem AlOwaybil
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology and Behaviour, 4488University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW We reviewed the existing and recent community models of care in schizophrenia. We examine characteristics, recent updates, evidence, cost-effectiveness, and patients' acceptance for existing and new community-based care models in high-income (HI) and low- and middle-income (LAMI) countries. RECENT FINDINGS Assertive Community Treatment (ACT), Intensive Case Management (ICM), and Crisis Intervention are cost-effective interventions for schizophrenia and time tested in the last few decades in HI countries. The growing evidence suggests that tailor-made ACTs and ICM can effectively reduce substance use, homelessness, and criminal activity in persons with schizophrenia who live in the community. Similarly, in LAMI Countries, a few community-based care models for schizophrenia have been developed and tested based on community-based rehabilitation principles. The modality of a community model of care and interventions for a person with schizophrenia should be chosen based on the person's co-existing psychosocial difficulties and challenges such as homelessness, criminal behaviour, and substance use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guru S. Gowda
- Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, 560029 India
| | - Mohan K. Isaac
- Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Division of Psychiatry, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Fremantle Hospital, Fremantle Hospital, Level 7, T Block, Fremantle, WA 6160 Australia
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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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Davis EM, Garcia D, Rothenberg WA, Barnett ML, Davidson B, Espinosa N, Tonarely NA, Robertson EL, Alonso B, San Juan J, Jent JF. A Preliminary Analysis of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy Plus Natural Helper Support to Increase Treatment Access and Engagement for Low-Income Families of Color. CHILDREN AND YOUTH SERVICES REVIEW 2022; 134:106370. [PMID: 35273422 PMCID: PMC8903162 DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2022.106370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Disparities in care for low-income children of color call for innovative culturally and linguistically responsive solutions to better engage marginalized populations in evidence-based interventions. In partnership with a community organization, the addition of natural helper support as an adjunct to Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT+NH) was examined as a strategy to increase recruitment, engagement, and retention in PCIT for families historically unreached by a university-based clinic. Natural helpers provided home-based skills practice and support for forty-two families whose parents were more racially and linguistically diverse and had lower income and lower caregiver education than the typical population served by the same program (i.e., program population). Families who received PCIT+NH had comparable or higher rates of engagement and improvements in clinical outcomes (i.e., decreased child externalizing and internalizing behaviors, increased child compliance, decreased caregiver stress, increased caregiver parenting skills) relative to the program population. Furthermore, higher doses of natural helper support were associated with higher rates on most measures of treatment engagement (i.e., treatment completion, completion of the Child Directed Interaction phase of treatment, PCIT sessions, homework in the Parent Directed Interaction phase of treatment), with the exception of homework in the Child Directed Interaction phase of treatment and overall session attendance rate. Next steps for testing the treatment engagement and clinical outcome effects of the PCIT+NH model are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eileen M. Davis
- University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Mailman Center for Child Development, 1600 NW 12 Ave, Miami, FL, USA 33136
| | - Dainelys Garcia
- University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Mailman Center for Child Development, 1600 NW 12 Ave, Miami, FL, USA 33136
| | - W. Andrew Rothenberg
- University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Mailman Center for Child Development, 1600 NW 12 Ave, Miami, FL, USA 33136
- Duke University Center for Child and Family Policy 302 Towerview Rd, Durham, NC, USA 27708
| | - Miya L. Barnett
- Department of Counseling, Clinical, & School Psychology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA 93106-9490
| | - Bridget Davidson
- University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Mailman Center for Child Development, 1600 NW 12 Ave, Miami, FL, USA 33136
| | - Natalie Espinosa
- University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Mailman Center for Child Development, 1600 NW 12 Ave, Miami, FL, USA 33136
| | - Niza A. Tonarely
- University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Mailman Center for Child Development, 1600 NW 12 Ave, Miami, FL, USA 33136
| | - Emily L. Robertson
- University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Mailman Center for Child Development, 1600 NW 12 Ave, Miami, FL, USA 33136
| | - Betty Alonso
- ConnectFamilias 1111 SW 8 Street, Miami, FL, USA 33130
| | | | - Jason F. Jent
- University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Mailman Center for Child Development, 1600 NW 12 Ave, Miami, FL, USA 33136
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Oyedeji AD, Ullah I, Weich S, Bentall R, Booth A. Effectiveness of non-specialist delivered psychological interventions on glycemic control and mental health problems in individuals with type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Ment Health Syst 2022; 16:9. [PMID: 35120528 PMCID: PMC8817494 DOI: 10.1186/s13033-022-00521-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Typically, specialist mental health professionals deliver psychological interventions for individuals with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and related mental health problems. However, such interventions are not generalizable to low- and middle-income countries, due to the dearth of trained mental health professionals. Individuals with little or no experience in the field of mental health (referred to as non-specialists) may have an important role to play in bridging this treatment gap. Aim To synthesise evidence for the effectiveness of non-specialist delivered psychological interventions on glycaemic control and mental health problems in people with T2DM. Methods Eight databases and reference lists of previous reviews were systematically searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Outcome measures were glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), diabetes distress and depression. The Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias Tool was used for risk of bias assessment. Data from the included studies were synthesized using narrative synthesis and random effects meta-analysis. Results 16 RCTs were eligible for inclusion in the systematic review. The 11 studies that were pooled in the meta-analysis demonstrated a reduction in HbA1c in favor of non-specialist delivered psychological interventions when compared with control groups (pooled mean difference = − 0.13; 95% CI − 0.22 to − 0.04, p = 0.005) with high heterogeneity across studies (I2 = 71%, p = 0.0002). The beneficial effects of the interventions on diabetes distress and depression were not consistent across the different trials. Conclusion Non-specialist delivered psychological interventions may be effective in improving HbA1c. These interventions have some promising benefits on diabetes distress and depression, although the findings are inconclusive. More studies of non-specialist delivered psychological interventions are needed in low- and middle-income countries to provide more evidence of the potential effectiveness of these interventions for individuals living with T2DM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayodeji D Oyedeji
- School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S1 4DA, UK.
| | - Ibrahim Ullah
- Centre for Assistive Technology and Connected Healthcare, School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S1 4DA, UK
| | - Scott Weich
- School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S1 4DA, UK
| | - Richard Bentall
- Department of Psychology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S1 4DA, UK
| | - Andrew Booth
- School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S1 4DA, UK
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Wyatt S, Ostbye T, De Silva V, Long Q. Antenatal depression in Sri Lanka: a qualitative study of public health midwives' views and practices. Reprod Health 2022; 19:23. [PMID: 35090509 PMCID: PMC8796187 DOI: 10.1186/s12978-022-01330-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Almost all pregnant people in Sri Lanka receive antenatal care by public health midwives. While there is strong infrastructure in Sri Lanka for postpartum mental health care, the current practices within antenatal mental health care have not been externally evaluated. The purpose of this study is to investigate the current clinical guidelines and experiences of how public health midwives diagnose and treat antenatal depression. Methods We conducted in-depth interviews with 12 public health midwives from four antenatal clinics in the Bope Poddala division in Galle, Sri Lanka and reviewed and extracted information on antenatal depression from clinical guidelines. Data was collected in Sinhala and translated into English. We used applied thematic analysis and worked closely with our local team to ensure data trustworthiness. Results Midwives (n = 12) reported varying degrees of knowledge on antenatal depression and did not have standardized diagnosis patterns. However, they were very consistent in their clinical practices, following guidelines for referral and follow-up of case management, building strong rapport. In their practice, midwives continue to face challenges of lack of human resources and high stigma around mental illness. They suggested that that care could be improved with use of a standardized diagnostic tool, and easier access to specialist care. We found the clinical guideline on the diagnosis and treatment of antenatal depression is lacking key details on symptoms for appropriate diagnosis, but it clearly guides on how to navigate treatment. Conclusions Public health midwives are following the clinical guideline to refer pregnant women who need intervention for antenatal depression and follow-up for case management. However, there is a need for more specific and context-relevant guidelines, especially for diagnosis of antenatal depression. Formative research is needed to explore intervention strategies to improve antenatal depression management in Sri Lanka. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12978-022-01330-z. We interviewed 12 midwives at pregnancy clinics in southern Sri Lanka about what happens if a pregnant woman gets depressed. Some midwives knew a lot about depression, while others did not know very much. They all had different ideas of what the signs of depression were, and what percentage of pregnant women are usually depressed. They have a rule book about how to be a midwife, but it is not clear about how they should find out if a pregnant woman has depression. However, all midwives agreed on what they should do if they meet a depressed woman during an antenatal appointment in their clinic, following the rule book closely. They said they need to tell their supervisor, who will tell a psychiatrist who can treat the depression. However, sometimes there are problems. Midwives said that they, their supervisor and the psychiatrist are all very busy and don’t have enough time to spend with pregnant women. Also, a lot of the women in their clinics don’t want to get treated because they feel embarrassed about having depression, and don’t want other people to know. Midwives told us they could do their jobs better if they could give a quick test for depression to every woman visiting their clinic. This would be an easy solution, because they already use a test like this for after women give birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sage Wyatt
- Global Health Research Center, Duke Kunshan University, No. 8 Duke Avenue, Kunshan, 215316, Jiangsu, China.,University of Bergen, Bergen, Vestland, Norway
| | - Truls Ostbye
- Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.,University of Bergen, Bergen, Vestland, Norway
| | - Vijitha De Silva
- Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Ruhuna, Matara, Southern Province, Sri Lanka
| | - Qian Long
- Global Health Research Center, Duke Kunshan University, No. 8 Duke Avenue, Kunshan, 215316, Jiangsu, China.
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Rosenberg BM, Kodish T, Cohen ZD, Gong-Guy E, Craske MG. A Novel Peer-to-Peer Coaching Program to Support Digital Mental Health: Design and Implementation. JMIR Ment Health 2022; 9:e32430. [PMID: 35080504 PMCID: PMC8829693 DOI: 10.2196/32430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 11/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Many individuals in need of mental health services do not currently receive care. Scalable programs are needed to reduce the burden of mental illness among those without access to existing providers. Digital interventions present an avenue for increasing the reach of mental health services. These interventions often rely on paraprofessionals, or coaches, to support the treatment. Although existing programs hold immense promise, providers must ensure that treatments are delivered with high fidelity and adherence to the treatment model. In this paper, we first highlight the tension between the scalability and fidelity of mental health services. We then describe the design and implementation of a peer-to-peer coach training program to support a digital mental health intervention for undergraduate students within a university setting. We specifically note strategies for emphasizing fidelity within our scalable framework, including principles of learning theory and competency-based supervision. Finally, we discuss future applications of this work, including the potential adaptability of our model for use within other contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin M Rosenberg
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Tamar Kodish
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Zachary D Cohen
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Elizabeth Gong-Guy
- Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Michelle G Craske
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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42
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Le PD, Eschliman EL, Grivel MM, Tang J, Cho YG, Yang X, Tay C, Li T, Bass J, Yang LH. Barriers and facilitators to implementation of evidence-based task-sharing mental health interventions in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review using implementation science frameworks. Implement Sci 2022; 17:4. [PMID: 35022081 PMCID: PMC8756725 DOI: 10.1186/s13012-021-01179-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Task-sharing is a promising strategy to expand mental healthcare in low-resource settings, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Research on how to best implement task-sharing mental health interventions, however, is hampered by an incomplete understanding of the barriers and facilitators to their implementation. This review aims to systematically identify implementation barriers and facilitators in evidence-based task-sharing mental health interventions using an implementation science lens, organizing factors across a novel, integrated implementation science framework. METHODS PubMed, PsychINFO, CINAHL, and Embase were used to identify English-language, peer-reviewed studies using search terms for three categories: "mental health," "task-sharing," and "LMIC." Articles were included if they: focused on mental disorders as the main outcome(s); included a task-sharing intervention using or based on an evidence-based practice; were implemented in an LMIC setting; and included assessment or data-supported analysis of barriers and facilitators. An initial conceptual model and coding framework derived from the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research and the Theoretical Domains Framework was developed and iteratively refined to create an integrated conceptual framework, the Barriers and Facilitators in Implementation of Task-Sharing Mental Health Interventions (BeFITS-MH), which specifies 37 constructs across eight domains: (I) client characteristics, (II) provider characteristics, (III) family and community factors, (IV) organizational characteristics, (V) societal factors, (VI) mental health system factors, (VII) intervention characteristics, and (VIII) stigma. RESULTS Of the 26,935 articles screened (title and abstract), 192 articles underwent full-text review, yielding 37 articles representing 28 unique intervention studies that met the inclusion criteria. The most prevalent facilitators occur in domains that are more amenable to adaptation (i.e., the intervention and provider characteristics domains), while salient barriers occur in domains that are more challenging to modulate or intervene on-these include constructs in the client characteristics as well as the broader societal and structural levels of influence (i.e., the organizational, mental health system domains). Other notable trends include constructs in the family and community domains occurring as barriers and as facilitators roughly equally, and stigma constructs acting exclusively as barriers. CONCLUSIONS Using the BeFITS-MH model we developed based on implementation science frameworks, this systematic review provides a comprehensive identification and organization of barriers and facilitators to evidence-based task-sharing mental health interventions in LMICs. These findings have important implications for ongoing and future implementation of this critically needed intervention strategy, including the promise of leveraging task-sharing intervention characteristics as sites of continued innovation, the importance of but relative lack of engagement with constructs in macro-level domains (e.g., organizational characteristics, stigma), and the need for more delineation of strategies for task-sharing mental health interventions that researchers and implementers can employ to enhance implementation in and across levels. TRIAL REGISTRATION PROSPERO CRD42020161357.
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Affiliation(s)
- PhuongThao D. Le
- grid.137628.90000 0004 1936 8753Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, New York University School of Global Public Health, 708 Broadway, NY 10012 New York, USA
| | - Evan L. Eschliman
- grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 North Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21205 USA
| | - Margaux M. Grivel
- grid.137628.90000 0004 1936 8753Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, New York University School of Global Public Health, 708 Broadway, NY 10012 New York, USA
| | - Jeffrey Tang
- grid.137628.90000 0004 1936 8753Department of Psychology, New York University Graduate School of Arts and Science, One-Half Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10003 USA
| | - Young G. Cho
- grid.21729.3f0000000419368729New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Dr., New York, NY 10032 USA
| | - Xinyu Yang
- grid.21729.3f0000000419368729Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, 722 West 168th St., New York, NY 10032 USA
| | - Charisse Tay
- grid.21729.3f0000000419368729Columbia University Teachers College, 525 West 120th Street, New York, NY 10027 USA
| | - Tingyu Li
- grid.21729.3f0000000419368729Columbia University Teachers College, 525 West 120th Street, New York, NY 10027 USA
| | - Judith Bass
- grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Hampton House, 8th Floor, 624 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA
| | - Lawrence H. Yang
- grid.137628.90000 0004 1936 8753Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, New York University School of Global Public Health, 708 Broadway, NY 10012 New York, USA ,grid.21729.3f0000000419368729Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, 722 West 168th St., New York, NY 10032 USA
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Morillo H, Lowry S, Henderson C. Exploring the effectiveness of family-based interventions for psychosis in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 2022; 57:1749-1769. [PMID: 35699742 PMCID: PMC9375736 DOI: 10.1007/s00127-022-02309-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Of the 80% people with psychosis living in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), up to 90% are left to the care of families. The World Health Organization has recommended the inclusion of families in community-based rehabilitation and while there is evidence of its implementation in LMICs, this has not been reviewed yet. This study aims to describe the key features and implementation strategies of family-based interventions in LMICs, and appraise their effectiveness. METHODS Included are people with psychosis in LMICs who receive any form of family-based intervention, compared to their usual or absence of treatment, with patient outcome measures. We searched (August 2021) through Embase, MEDLINE, Global Health, PsycInfo, Social Policy and Practice, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), as well as from grey literature and hand-searched records. Risk of bias was assessed through the Integrated Quality Criteria for Review of Multiple Study Designs (ICROMS) and Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards (CHEERS), then analyzed narratively. RESULTS 27 studies were included from the 5254 records. Psychotherapeutic features, systems approach and task-sharing were key intervention elements. Delivery strategies included preliminary research, sustained family engagement, and cultural adaptation. There were positive health impacts across four outcome domains. CONCLUSION All studies recommended family-based interventions, with limitations in heterogeneity and 70% of them rated high risk of bias. OTHER Review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021256856). The authors did not receive funding for this research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Morillo
- King’s College London, London, UK
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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44
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Supporting addiction affected families effectively: a feasibility randomised controlled trial of a psychosocial intervention delivered by lay counsellors in Goa, India. Glob Ment Health (Camb) 2022; 9:448-459. [PMID: 36618725 PMCID: PMC9806960 DOI: 10.1017/gmh.2022.41] [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: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 07/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite evidence of the burden of alcohol use on families, there is a lack of adequate and targeted support. We aimed to examine the feasibility, acceptability and impact of Supporting Addiction Affected Families Effectively (SAFE), a brief lay counsellor-delivered intervention for affected family members (AFMs). METHODS Parallel arm feasibility randomised controlled trial [1:1 allocation to SAFE or enhanced usual care (EUC)]. The primary outcome was mean difference in symptom score assessed by the Symptom Rating Test and secondary outcomes were difference in coping, impact and social support scores measured by the Coping Questionnaire, Family Member Impact Questionnaire, and Alcohol, Drugs and the Family Social Support Scale. Process data examining feasibility and acceptability were also collected. The primary analysis was intention to treat at the 3-month endpoint. RESULTS In total, 115 AFMs were referred to the trial, and 101 (87.8%) consenting participants were randomised to the two arms (51 SAFE arm and 50 EUC arm). Seventy-eight per cent completed treatment, with the mean number of sessions being 4.25 sessions and mean duration being 53 min. Ninety-five per cent completed outcome assessment. There were no statistically significant differences between SAFE and EUC on any of the outcome measures, except for the between-group adjusted mean differences for social support scores (AMD -6.05, 95% CI -10.98 to -1.12, p = 0.02). CONCLUSION Our work indicates that it is possible to identify AFMs through community networking, and have high rates of participation for lay counsellor-delivered psychosocial care. Nevertheless, there is a need for further intervention development to ensure its contextual relevance and appropriateness.
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45
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Vanderburg JL, Dukpa C, Rauniyar AK, Giri P, Bhattarai S, Thapa A, Gaynes BN, Hampanda K, Lamb MM, Matergia M, Cruz CM. Exploring Mental Health and Academic Outcomes of Children Receiving Non-manualized, Transdiagnostic, Task-Shifted Mental Health Care From Their Teachers in a Low-and-Middle Income Country. Front Pediatr 2022; 10:807178. [PMID: 35386261 PMCID: PMC8979063 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2022.807178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
A majority of children worldwide who face mental health difficulties, especially in low-and-middle income countries, remain undiagnosed and untreated. This deficit roots in part from a lack of trained professionals qualified to provide care. Task-shifting the provision of treatment to teachers, individuals with consistent access to children, can reduce the care gap. The current study investigated whether the implementation of a pilot trial of Tealeaf-Mansik Swastha (Teachers Leading the Frontlines-Mental Health; "Tealeaf") was associated with improvements in child mental health and academic outcomes. Tealeaf is a transdiagnostic, non-manualized, task-shifting intervention in which teachers identify students in need of mental health care and then provide task-shifted care for them using an emerging, novel therapy modality, "education as mental health therapy" (Ed-MH). Pre-post standardized quantitative measures focused on child mental health status and academics. The measures were completed by multiple raters and compared to determine whether changes occurred. Results indicated that primary teacher raters observed significant improvements in child mental health symptoms overall, while secondary teacher raters and caregivers noted improvement for certain diagnostic categories. Caregivers observed on average a decreased impact of their children's mental health symptoms on their children's lives. Academically, math scores significantly improved while reading trended toward significance. Preliminary evidence overall supports the viability of Tealeaf and Ed-MH for positively impacting child mental health and academics. Future directions include the implementation of a formalized, randomized-controlled trial to strengthen preliminary outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana L Vanderburg
- School Psychology Program, School of Education, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Choden Dukpa
- Darjeeling Ladenla Road Prerna, Darjeeling, India
| | - Abhishek K Rauniyar
- Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, CO, United States
| | | | | | - Arpana Thapa
- Darjeeling Ladenla Road Prerna, Darjeeling, India
| | - Bradley N Gaynes
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States.,Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Karen Hampanda
- Center for Global Health, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, CO, United States.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Molly M Lamb
- Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, CO, United States.,Center for Global Health, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Michael Matergia
- Center for Global Health, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, CO, United States.,Broadleaf Health and Education Alliance, Stroudsburg, PA, United States
| | - Christina M Cruz
- School Psychology Program, School of Education, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States.,Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
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Ortega AC, Valtierra E, Rodríguez-Cuevas FG, Aranda Z, Preciado G, Mohar S. Protecting vulnerable communities and health professionals from COVID-19 associated mental health distress: a comprehensive approach led by a public-civil partnership in rural Chiapas, Mexico. Glob Health Action 2021; 14:1997410. [PMID: 34889715 PMCID: PMC8667903 DOI: 10.1080/16549716.2021.1997410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has stricken mental health worldwide. Marginalized populations in low- and middle-income countries have been the most affected, as they were already experiencing barriers to accessing mental health care prior to the pandemic and are unequally exposed to the stressors associated with the health emergency, such as economic ravages or increased risk of complicated disease outcomes. OBJECTIVE The aim of this paper is to describe a comprehensive initiative resulting from a public-civil partnership to address the increased burden of mental health illness associated with the COVID-19 pandemic in rural Chiapas, Mexico. METHODS To address the emerging health needs of the general population and health professionals resulting from the pandemic, Compañeros En Salud (CES), a non-profit civil society organization based in Chiapas, implemented a comprehensive strategy to compensate for the shortage of mental health services in the region in collaboration with the Chiapas Ministry of Health. The strategy included three components: capacity building in mental health care delivery, psychosocial support to the general population, and provision of mental health care to CES collaborating staff. In this capacity building article, implementers from CES and the government share descriptive information on the specific interventions carried out and their beneficiaries, as well as a critical discussion of the strategy followed. RESULTS Through this strategy, we have been successful in filling the gaps in the public health system to ensure that CES-served populations and CES-collaborating health professionals have access to mental health care. However, further studies to quantify the impact of this intervention in alleviating the burden of mental health illnesses associated with the pandemic are needed. CONCLUSIONS The current situation represents an opportunity to reimagine global mental health. Only through the promotion of community-based initiatives and the development of integrated approaches will we ensure the well-being of marginalized populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Cecilia Ortega
- Mental Health Program, Partners In Health Mexico/Compañeros En Salud, Ángel Albino Corzo, México
| | - Erika Valtierra
- Mental Health Program, Partners In Health Mexico/Compañeros En Salud, Ángel Albino Corzo, México
| | - Fátima Gabriela Rodríguez-Cuevas
- Mental Health Program, Partners In Health Mexico/Compañeros En Salud, Ángel Albino Corzo, México
- Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Zeus Aranda
- Research and Impact Program, Partners in Health Mexico/Compañeros En Salud, Ángel Albino Corzo, México
| | - Gisela Preciado
- Mental Health Program, Partners In Health Mexico/Compañeros En Salud, Ángel Albino Corzo, México
| | - Sebastián Mohar
- Hospital Básico Comunitario de Ángel Albino Corzo, Chiapas Ministry of Health, Ángel Albino Corzo, México
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Ertl V, Groß M, Mwaka SO, Neuner F. Treating alcohol use disorder in the absence of specialized services - evaluation of the moving inpatient Treatment Camp approach in Uganda. BMC Psychiatry 2021; 21:601. [PMID: 34852824 PMCID: PMC8638348 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-021-03593-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The gap between service need and service provision for alcohol-related disorders is highest in resource-poor countries. However, in some of these contexts, local initiatives have developed pragmatic interventions that can be carried out with limited specialized personnel. In an uncontrolled treatment study, we aimed to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, safety, costs and potential effects of an innovative locally developed community-based program (the Treatment Camp) that is based on an inpatient clinic that moves from community to community. METHODS Out of 32 treatment-seeking individuals 25 took part in the one-week Treatment Camp that included detoxification and counseling components. Re-assessments took place 5 and 12 months after their participation. We explored the course of a wide range of alcohol-related indicators, using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) as primary outcome complemented by a timeline follow-back approach and the Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale. Additionally, we assessed impaired functioning, alcohol-related stigmatization, symptoms of common mental health disorders and indicators of family functioning as reported by participants' wives and children. RESULTS All alcohol-related measures decreased significantly after the Treatment Camp and remained stable up to the 12-month-assessment with high effect sizes ranging from 0.89 to 3.49 (Hedges's g). Although 92% of the participants had lapsed at least once during the follow-up period, 67% classified below the usually applied AUDIT cutoff for hazardous drinking (≥ 8) and no one qualified for the dependent range (≥ 20) one year after treatment. Most secondary outcomes including impaired functioning, alcohol-related stigmatization, symptoms of depression and indicators of family functioning followed the same trajectory. CONCLUSIONS We found the Treatment Camp approach to be acceptable, feasible, safe and affordable (approx. 111 USD/patient) and we could obtain preliminary evidence of its efficacy. Due to its creative combination of inpatient treatment and monitoring by medical personnel with local mobility, the Treatment Camp appears to be more accessible and inclusive than other promising interventions for alcohol dependent individuals in resource-poor contexts. Effects of the approach seem to extend to interactions within families, including a reduction of dysfunctional and violent interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verena Ertl
- Clinical Psychology and Biopsychology, Department of Psychology, Catholic University Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, Ostenstraße 25, 85072, Eichstätt, Germany.
- vivo international (www.vivo.org), Konstanz, Germany.
| | - Melissa Groß
- vivo international (www.vivo.org), Konstanz, Germany
- Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Department of Psychology, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstraße 25, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Samuel Okidi Mwaka
- Program for Prevention, Awareness, Counseling and Treatment of Alcoholism (PACTA; www.pactaguluganda.org.ug), Plot 1 Burcoro Road, Wiaworanga, Gulu, Uganda
| | - Frank Neuner
- vivo international (www.vivo.org), Konstanz, Germany
- Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Department of Psychology, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstraße 25, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany
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Evidence to Practice for Mental Health Task-Sharing: Understanding Readiness for Change among Accredited Social Health Activists in Sehore District, Madhya Pradesh, India. ADMINISTRATION AND POLICY IN MENTAL HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH 2021; 49:463-475. [PMID: 34800181 DOI: 10.1007/s10488-021-01176-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/31/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Involvement of community health workers (CHWs) within task-sharing to bridge the mental health treatment gap has been proven to be efficacious in randomized controlled trials. The impact of mental health programs based on task-sharing paradigm greatly depends on the performance of CHWs which, in-turn, is influenced by their readiness for change. However, there is dearth of literature assessing the role of readiness for change as an important predicator of CHW performance. The aim of this study is to examine the applicability of the readiness for change model and investigate its cultural and contextual nuances among Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs), a cadre of CHWs in India, to understand their engagement in mental health task-sharing. We conducted in-depth, semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of n = 12 key informants including ASHAs and other healthcare professionals in Sehore district, India. The interview guide consisted of open-ended questions based on the readiness for change factors including ASHAs' attitudes towards their role in mental health care, perception of capability to implement mental health task-sharing, of support from the public health system, etc. Framework analysis with a combined inductive-deductive approach was employed to code the data and generate themes. Participants endorsed three readiness for change themes relevant to task-sharing among ASHAs including change valence or value ascribed to task-sharing, change-efficacy or the perceived ability to implement task-sharing, and job valence or value ascribed to their regular job role. In addition, they provided insights into the culturally and contextually salient aspects of these factors. Themes of personal empowerment, gaining respect and trust from community, professional duty, relationship with supervisors, and lack of resources availability were majorly highlighted. This is the first study to qualitatively investigate the applicability of the readiness for change model and its culture- and context-specific nuances among a cadre of non-specialist health workers in India. Our findings posit that implementation science models should strongly consider the culture and context within which they are being applied to enhance fit and relevance. Further, our results should be taken into consideration to adapt and validate measurement tools and build readiness for change in this population.
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Perry HB, Chowdhury M, Were M, LeBan K, Crigler L, Lewin S, Musoke D, Kok M, Scott K, Ballard M, Hodgins S. Community health workers at the dawn of a new era: 11. CHWs leading the way to "Health for All". Health Res Policy Syst 2021; 19:111. [PMID: 34641891 PMCID: PMC8506098 DOI: 10.1186/s12961-021-00755-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This is the concluding paper of our 11-paper supplement, "Community health workers at the dawn of a new era". METHODS We relied on our collective experience, an extensive body of literature about community health workers (CHWs), and the other papers in this supplement to identify the most pressing challenges facing CHW programmes and approaches for strengthening CHW programmes. RESULTS CHWs are increasingly being recognized as a critical resource for achieving national and global health goals. These goals include achieving the health-related Sustainable Development Goals of Universal Health Coverage, ending preventable child and maternal deaths, and making a major contribution to the control of HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, and noncommunicable diseases. CHWs can also play a critical role in responding to current and future pandemics. For these reasons, we argue that CHWs are now at the dawn of a new era. While CHW programmes have long been an underfunded afterthought, they are now front and centre as the emerging foundation of health systems. Despite this increased attention, CHW programmes continue to face the same pressing challenges: inadequate financing, lack of supplies and commodities, low compensation of CHWs, and inadequate supervision. We outline approaches for strengthening CHW programmes, arguing that their enormous potential will only be realized when investment and health system support matches rhetoric. Rigorous monitoring, evaluation, and implementation research are also needed to enable CHW programmes to continuously improve their quality and effectiveness. CONCLUSION A marked increase in sustainable funding for CHW programmes is needed, and this will require increased domestic political support for prioritizing CHW programmes as economies grow and additional health-related funding becomes available. The paradigm shift called for here will be an important step in accelerating progress in achieving current global health goals and in reaching the goal of Health for All.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henry B Perry
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | - Simon Lewin
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway and Health Systems Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - David Musoke
- Department of Disease Control and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Maryse Kok
- Department of Global Health, KIT Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Kerry Scott
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Independent Consultant, Toronto, Canada
| | - Madeleine Ballard
- Community Health Impact Coalition, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Health System Design and Global Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Steve Hodgins
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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Geda YE, Krell-Roesch J, Fisseha Y, Tefera A, Beyero T, Rosenbaum D, Szabo TG, Araya M, Hayes SC. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in a Low-Income Country in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Call for Further Research. Front Public Health 2021; 9:732800. [PMID: 34631649 PMCID: PMC8494766 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.732800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A worsening trend of critical shortages in senior health care workers across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in sub-Saharan Africa has been documented for decades. This is especially the case in Ethiopia that has severe shortage of mental health professionals. Consistent with the WHO recommended approach of task sharing for mental health care in LMICs, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which is an empirically validated psychological intervention aimed at increasing psychological flexibility, may be delivered by trained laypersons who have a grassroots presence. In this paper, we discuss the need for and potential role of ACT to be delivered by health extension workers (HEWs) to address mental health care needs across Ethiopia. To this end, we also reviewed previous studies that have examined the effectiveness of ACT-based interventions in African countries including in Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Uganda, and South Africa. All studies revealed significant improvements of various mental health-related outcome measures such as decreased psychological distress and depressive symptoms, or increased subjective wellbeing and life satisfaction in the groups that received an ACT-based intervention. However, to date, there is no study that applied ACT in Ethiopia. Thus, more research is warranted to examine the effectiveness and, if proven successful, to scale up a task sharing approach of an ACT-based intervention being delivered by trained HEWs at a grassroots level, possibly paving the way for an innovative, sustainable mental health service in Ethiopia as well as other African LMICs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yonas E Geda
- Department of Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Janina Krell-Roesch
- Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States.,Institute of Sports and Sports Science, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Yaphet Fisseha
- Clinical PsyD Department, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Aida Tefera
- Department of Psychiatry, Eka Kotebe Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Teferra Beyero
- Department of Psychiatry, Eka Kotebe Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | | | - Thomas G Szabo
- School of Behavior Analysis, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL, United States
| | - Mesfin Araya
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Steven C Hayes
- Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, United States
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