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Papola D, Prina E, Ceccarelli C, Cadorin C, Gastaldon C, Ferreira MC, Tol WA, van Ommeren M, Barbui C, Purgato M. Psychological and social interventions for the promotion of mental health in people living in low- and middle-income countries affected by humanitarian crises. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2024; 5:CD014300. [PMID: 38770799 PMCID: PMC11106803 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd014300.pub2] [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: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Because of wars, conflicts, persecutions, human rights violations, and humanitarian crises, about 84 million people are forcibly displaced around the world; the great majority of them live in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). People living in humanitarian settings are affected by a constellation of stressors that threaten their mental health. Psychosocial interventions for people affected by humanitarian crises may be helpful to promote positive aspects of mental health, such as mental well-being, psychosocial functioning, coping, and quality of life. Previous reviews have focused on treatment and mixed promotion and prevention interventions. In this review, we focused on promotion of positive aspects of mental health. OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of psychosocial interventions aimed at promoting mental health versus control conditions (no intervention, intervention as usual, or waiting list) in people living in LMICs affected by humanitarian crises. SEARCH METHODS We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, and seven other databases to January 2023. We also searched the World Health Organization's (WHO) International Clinical Trials Registry Platform and ClinicalTrials.gov to identify unpublished or ongoing studies, and checked the reference lists of relevant studies and reviews. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing psychosocial interventions versus control conditions (no intervention, intervention as usual, or waiting list) to promote positive aspects of mental health in adults and children living in LMICs affected by humanitarian crises. We excluded studies that enrolled participants based on a positive diagnosis of mental disorder (or based on a proxy of scoring above a cut-off score on a screening measure). DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS We used standard Cochrane methods. Our primary outcomes were mental well-being, functioning, quality of life, resilience, coping, hope, and prosocial behaviour. The secondary outcome was acceptability, defined as the number of participants who dropped out of the trial for any reason. We used GRADE to assess the certainty of evidence for the outcomes of mental well-being, functioning, and prosocial behaviour. MAIN RESULTS We included 13 RCTs with 7917 participants. Nine RCTs were conducted on children/adolescents, and four on adults. All included interventions were delivered to groups of participants, mainly by paraprofessionals. Paraprofessional is defined as an individual who is not a mental or behavioural health service professional, but works at the first stage of contact with people who are seeking mental health care. Four RCTs were carried out in Lebanon; two in India; and single RCTs in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Jordan, Haiti, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the occupied Palestinian Territories (oPT), Nepal, and Tanzania. The mean study duration was 18 weeks (minimum 10, maximum 32 weeks). Trials were generally funded by grants from academic institutions or non-governmental organisations. For children and adolescents, there was no clear difference between psychosocial interventions and control conditions in improving mental well-being and prosocial behaviour at study endpoint (mental well-being: standardised mean difference (SMD) 0.06, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.17 to 0.29; 3 RCTs, 3378 participants; very low-certainty evidence; prosocial behaviour: SMD -0.25, 95% CI -0.60 to 0.10; 5 RCTs, 1633 participants; low-certainty evidence), or at medium-term follow-up (mental well-being: mean difference (MD) -0.70, 95% CI -2.39 to 0.99; 1 RCT, 258 participants; prosocial behaviour: SMD -0.48, 95% CI -1.80 to 0.83; 2 RCT, 483 participants; both very low-certainty evidence). Interventions may improve functioning (MD -2.18, 95% CI -3.86 to -0.50; 1 RCT, 183 participants), with sustained effects at follow-up (MD -3.33, 95% CI -5.03 to -1.63; 1 RCT, 183 participants), but evidence is very uncertain as the data came from one RCT (both very low-certainty evidence). Psychosocial interventions may improve mental well-being slightly in adults at study endpoint (SMD -0.29, 95% CI -0.44 to -0.14; 3 RCTs, 674 participants; low-certainty evidence), but they may have little to no effect at follow-up, as the evidence is uncertain and future RCTs might either confirm or disprove this finding. No RCTs measured the outcomes of functioning and prosocial behaviour in adults. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS To date, there is scant and inconclusive randomised evidence on the potential benefits of psychological and social interventions to promote mental health in people living in LMICs affected by humanitarian crises. Confidence in the findings is hampered by the scarcity of studies included in the review, the small number of participants analysed, the risk of bias in the studies, and the substantial level of heterogeneity. Evidence on the efficacy of interventions on positive mental health outcomes is too scant to determine firm practice and policy implications. This review has identified a large gap between what is known and what still needs to be addressed in the research area of mental health promotion in humanitarian settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- 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
- Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Eleonora Prina
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
- Cochrane Global Mental Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Caterina Ceccarelli
- Global Program Expert Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support, SOS Children's Villages, Milan, Italy
| | - Camilla Cadorin
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
- Cochrane Global Mental Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Chiara Gastaldon
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
- Cochrane Global Mental Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Madalena C Ferreira
- Public Health Unit, Médio Ave Local Health Unit, Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal
| | - Wietse A Tol
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mark van Ommeren
- Department of Mental Health, Brain Health and Substance Use, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - 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
| | - 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
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Ngamaba KH, Lombo LS, Makopa IK, Webber M, Liuta JM, Madinga JN, Mampunza SMM, Heap C. Mental health outcomes, literacy and service provision in low- and middle-income settings: a systematic review of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. NPJ MENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH 2024; 3:9. [PMID: 38609473 PMCID: PMC10956021 DOI: 10.1038/s44184-023-00051-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the prevalence of mental health issues could be greater than in other low-income and middle-income countries because of major risk factors related to armed conflicts and poverty. Given that mental health is an essential component of health, it is surprising that no systematic evaluation of mental health in the DRC has yet been undertaken. This study aims to undertake the first systematic review of mental health literacy and service provision in the DRC, to bridge this gap and inform those who need to develop an evidence base. This could support policymakers in tackling the issues related to limited mental health systems and service provision in DRC. Following Cochrane and PRISMA guidelines, a systematic (Web of Science, Medline, Public Health, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar) search was conducted (January 2000 and August 2023). Combinations of key blocks of terms were used in the search such as DRC, war zone, mental health, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, sexual violence, war trauma, resilience, mental health systems and service provision. We followed additional sources from reference lists of included studies. Screening was completed in two stages: title and abstract search, and full-text screening for relevance and quality. Overall, 50 studies were included in the review; the majority of studies (n = 31) were conducted in the Eastern region of the DRC, a region devastated by war and sexual violence. Different instruments were used to measure participants' mental health such as the Hopkins Symptoms Checklist (HSCL-25), The Harvard Trauma Questionnaire, Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9); General Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7), and Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale (PANSS). Our study found that wartime sexual violence and extreme poverty are highly traumatic, and cause multiple, long-term mental health difficulties. We found that depression, anxiety, and PTSD were the most common problems in the DRC. Psychosocial interventions such as group therapy, family support, and socio-economic support were effective in reducing anxiety, depression, and PTSD symptoms. This systematic review calls attention to the need to support sexual violence survivors and many other Congolese people affected by traumatic events. This review also highlights the need for validating culturally appropriate measures, and the need for well-designed controlled intervention studies in low-income settings such as the DRC. Better public mental health systems and service provision could help to improve community cohesion, human resilience, and mental wellbeing. There is also an urgent need to address wider social issues such as poverty, stigma, and gender inequality in the DRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayonda Hubert Ngamaba
- International Centre for Mental Health Social Research, Social Policy and Social Work, School for Business and Society, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK.
| | - Laddy Sedzo Lombo
- Centre Spécialisé dans la Prise en charge Psychosociale en Santé Mentale (CSPEMRDC), Université Chrétienne de Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - Israël Kenda Makopa
- Neuropsychiatre et Addictologue Centre Spécialisé dans la Prise en charge Psychosociale en Santé Mentale (CSPEMRDC), Université Chrétienne de Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - Martin Webber
- International Centre for Mental Health Social Research, Social Policy and Social Work, School for Business and Society, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Jack M Liuta
- Department of Health Sciences, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Joule Ntwan Madinga
- WHO Country Office DRC & Medical Parasitology and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kikwit, Kikwit, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - Samuel Ma Miezi Mampunza
- Faculte de Medicine University of Kinshasa & Université Protestante au Congo (UPC), Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - Cheyann Heap
- International Centre for Mental Health Social Research, Social Policy and Social Work, School for Business and Society, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK
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Perkins J, Nelson S, Birley E, Mcswiggan E, Dozier M, McCarthy A, Atkins N, Agyei-Manu E, Rostron J, Kameda K, Kelly A, Chandler C, Street A. Is qualitative social research in global health fulfilling its potential?: a systematic evidence mapping of research on point-of-care testing in low- and middle-income contexts. BMC Health Serv Res 2024; 24:172. [PMID: 38326871 PMCID: PMC10848363 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-024-10645-5] [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] [Received: 07/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Qualitative social research has made valuable contributions to understanding technology-based interventions in global health. However, we have little evidence of who is carrying out this research, where, how, for what purpose, or the overall scope of this body of work. To address these questions, we undertook a systematic evidence mapping of one area of technology-focused research in global health, related to the development, deployment and use of point-of-care tests (POCTs) for low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). METHODS We conducted an exhaustive search to identify papers reporting on primary qualitative studies that explore the development, deployment, and use of POCTs in LMICs and screened results to identify studies meeting the inclusion criteria. Data were extracted from included studies and descriptive analyses were conducted. RESULTS One hundred thirty-eight studies met our inclusion criteria, with numbers increasing year by year. Funding of studies was primarily credited to high income country (HIC)-based institutions (95%) and 64% of first authors were affiliated with HIC-based institutions. Study sites, in contrast, were concentrated in a small number of LMICs. Relatively few studies examined social phenomena related to POCTs that take place in HICs. Seventy-one percent of papers reported on studies conducted within the context of a trial or intervention. Eighty percent reported on studies considering POCTs for HIV and/or malaria. Studies overwhelmingly reported on POCT use (91%) within primary-level health facilities (60%) or in hospitals (30%) and explored the perspectives of the health workforce (70%). CONCLUSIONS A reflexive approach to the role, status, and contribution of qualitative and social science research is crucial to identifying the contributions it can make to the production of global health knowledge and understanding the roles technology can play in achieving global health goals. The body of qualitative social research on POCTs for LMICs is highly concentrated in scope, overwhelmingly focuses on testing in the context of a narrow number of donor-supported initiatives and is driven by HIC resources and expertise. To optimise the full potential of qualitative social research requires the promotion of open and just research ecosystems that broaden the scope of inquiry beyond established public health paradigms and build social science capacity in LMICs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janet Perkins
- Department of Social Anthropology, School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh, Chrystal Macmillan Building, 15a George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9LD, Scotland, UK.
| | - Sarah Nelson
- Centre for Population Health Sciences, Old Medical School, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Teviot Place, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG, Scotland, UK
| | - Emma Birley
- Centre for Population Health Sciences, Old Medical School, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Teviot Place, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG, Scotland, UK
| | - Emilie Mcswiggan
- Centre for Population Health Sciences, Old Medical School, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Teviot Place, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG, Scotland, UK
| | - Marshall Dozier
- Library Academic Support Team, Library & University Collections, and Information Services University of Edinburgh, Argyle House, 3 Lady Lawson Street, Edinburgh, EH3 9DR, Scotland, UK
| | - Anna McCarthy
- Department of Social Work, School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh, Chrystal Macmillan Building, 15a George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9LD, Scotland, UK
| | - Nadege Atkins
- Centre for Population Health Sciences, Old Medical School, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Teviot Place, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG, Scotland, UK
| | - Eldad Agyei-Manu
- Centre for Population Health Sciences, Old Medical School, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Teviot Place, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG, Scotland, UK
| | - Jasmin Rostron
- Centre for Population Health Sciences, Old Medical School, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Teviot Place, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG, Scotland, UK
| | - Koichi Kameda
- Centre Population et Développement (CEPED), 45 Rue Des Saints-Pères, 75006, Paris, France
| | - Ann Kelly
- Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, King's College London, Bush House North East Wing, 30 Aldwych, London, WC2B 4BG, England, UK
| | - Clare Chandler
- Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Place, London, WC1H 9SH, England, UK
| | - Alice Street
- Department of Social Anthropology, School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh, Chrystal Macmillan Building, 15a George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9LD, Scotland, UK
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Salam RA, Khan MH, Meerza SSA, Das JK, Lewis-Watts L, Bhutta ZA. An evidence gap map of interventions for noncommunicable diseases and risk factors among children and adolescents. Nat Med 2024; 30:290-301. [PMID: 38195753 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-023-02737-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
Substance misuse, obesity, mental health conditions, type 1 diabetes, cancers, and cardiovascular and chronic respiratory diseases together account for 41% of disability-adjusted life years linked to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) among children and adolescents worldwide. However, the evidence on risk factors and interventions for this age group is scarce. Here we searched four databases to generate an evidence gap map of existing interventions and research gaps for these risk factors and NCDs. We mapped 159 reviews with 2,611 primary studies; most (96.2%) were conducted in high-income countries, and only 100 studies (3.8%) were from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The efficacy of therapeutic interventions on biomarkers and adverse events for NCDs appears to be well evidenced. Interventions for mental health conditions appear to be moderately evidenced, while interventions for obesity and substance misuse appear to be moderate to very low evidenced. Priority areas for future research include evaluating digital health platforms to support primary NCD prevention and management, and evaluating the impact of policy changes on the prevalence of obesity and substance misuse. Our findings highlight the wide disparity of evidence between high-income countries and LMICs. There is an urgent need for increased, targeted financing to address the research gaps in LMICs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rehana A Salam
- The Daffodil Centre, The University of Sydney, a joint venture with Cancer Council NSW, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Maryam Hameed Khan
- Institute for Global Health and Development, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Syed Saqlain Ali Meerza
- Institute for Global Health and Development, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Jai K Das
- Institute for Global Health and Development, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Laura Lewis-Watts
- Centre for Global Child Health, The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Zulfiqar A Bhutta
- Centre for Global Child Health, The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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Syaekhu A. Anxiety and Depression in Family Members of Critically III Covid-19 Inpatients: Brief Psychological Interventions via Telephone, an Exploratory Study [Letter]. J Multidiscip Healthc 2023; 16:3557-3558. [PMID: 38024122 PMCID: PMC10675629 DOI: 10.2147/jmdh.s449123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Syaekhu
- Department of State Administration, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Sawerigading University Makassar, Makassar, Indonesia
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Papola D, Karyotaki E, Purgato M, Sijbrandij M, Tedeschi F, Cuijpers P, Orestis E, Furukawa TA, Patel V, Barbui C. Dismantling and personalising task-sharing psychosocial interventions for common mental disorders: a study protocol for an individual participant data component network meta-analysis. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e077037. [PMID: 37918937 PMCID: PMC10626809 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-077037] [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: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Common mental disorders, including depression, anxiety and related somatic health symptoms, are leading causes of disability worldwide. Especially in low-resource settings, psychosocial interventions delivered by non-specialist providers through task-sharing modalities proved to be valid options to expand access to mental healthcare. However, such interventions are usually eclectic multicomponent interventions consisting of different combinations of evidence-based therapeutic strategies. Which of these various components (or combinations thereof) are more efficacious (and for whom) to reduce common mental disorder symptomatology is yet to be substantiated by evidence. METHODS AND ANALYSIS Comprehensive search was performed in electronic databases MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO and the Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials-CENTRAL from database inception to 15 March 2023 to systematically identify all randomised controlled trials that compared any single component or multicomponent psychosocial intervention delivered through the task-sharing modality against any active or inactive control condition in the treatment of adults suffering from common mental disorders. From these trials, individual participant data (IPD) of all measured outcomes and covariates will be collected. We will dismantle psychosocial interventions creating a taxonomy of components and then apply the IPD component network meta-analysis (IPD-cNMA) methodology to assess the efficacy of individual components (or combinations thereof) according to participant-level prognostic factors and effect modifiers. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION Ethics approval is not applicable for this study since no original data will be collected. Results from this study will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at relevant conferences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Papola
- Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Mental Health and Service Evaluation, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Science, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Eirini Karyotaki
- Department of Clinical, Neuro and Developmental Psychology, WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Dissemination of Psychological Interventions, Amsterdam Public Health research institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marianna Purgato
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Mental Health and Service Evaluation, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Science, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Marit Sijbrandij
- Department of Clinical, Neuro and Developmental Psychology, WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Dissemination of Psychological Interventions, Amsterdam Public Health research institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Federico Tedeschi
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Mental Health and Service Evaluation, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Science, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Pim Cuijpers
- Department of Clinical, Neuro and Developmental Psychology, WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Dissemination of Psychological Interventions, Amsterdam Public Health research institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Efthimiou Orestis
- Institute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Toshi A Furukawa
- Department of Health Promotion and Human Behavior, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine/School of Public Health, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Vikram Patel
- Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Corrado Barbui
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Mental Health and Service Evaluation, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Science, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
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Prina E, Ceccarelli C, Abdulmalik JO, Amaddeo F, Cadorin C, Papola D, Tol WA, Lund C, Barbui C, Purgato M. Task-sharing psychosocial interventions for the prevention of common mental disorders in the perinatal period in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Soc Psychiatry 2023; 69:1578-1591. [PMID: 37183793 DOI: 10.1177/00207640231174451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
AIM to assess the efficacy of psychosocial interventions delivered through task-sharing approaches for preventing perinatal common mental disorders among women in low- and middle-income countries. METHODS We conducted a systematic review of randomized controlled trials following a prespecified protocol registered in the Open Science Framework (osf.io/qt4y3). We searched MEDLINE, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) through June 2022. Two reviewers independently extracted the data and evaluated the risk of bias of included studies using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. We performed random-effects meta-analyses and rated the certainty of evidence using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. RESULTS We included 23 studies with 24,442 participants. At post-intervention, task-shared psychosocial interventions, were effective in preventing the development of mental disorders in general (RR 0.57, 95% CI [0.35, 0.91]), and specifically depression (RR 0.51, 95% CI [0.35, 0.75]), but not anxiety disorders (RR 0.46, 95% CI [0.06, 3.33]). Similarly, psychosocial interventions reduced psychological distress (SMD -1.32, 95% CI [-2.28, -0.35]), and depressive symptoms (SMD -0.50, 95% CI [-0.80, -0.16]), and increased parenting self-efficacy (SMD -0.76, 95% CI [-1.13, -0.38]) and social support (SMD -0.72, 95% CI [-1.22, -0.22]). No effect was detected for anxiety symptoms at post-intervention. At follow-up the beneficial effects of interventions progressively decreased. CONCLUSIONS Psychosocial interventions delivered through the task-sharing modality are effective in preventing perinatal common mental disorders and fostering positive mental health among women in low- and middle-income countries. However, our findings are tentative, due to the low number of preventative intervention strategies considering outcomes as the incidence of mental disorders, especially in the long-term. This evidence supports calls to implement and scale up psychosocial prevention interventions for perinatal common mental disorders in low- and middle-income countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Prina
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Italy
| | - Caterina Ceccarelli
- Global Program Expert Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support, SOS Children's Villages, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Francesco Amaddeo
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Italy
| | - Camilla Cadorin
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Italy
| | - Davide Papola
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Italy
- Cochrane Global Mental Health, University of Verona, Italy
- Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Wietse A Tol
- Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
- Athena Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Crick Lund
- Centre for Global Mental Health, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
- Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Corrado Barbui
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Italy
- Cochrane Global Mental Health, University of Verona, Italy
| | - Marianna Purgato
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Italy
- Cochrane Global Mental Health, University of Verona, Italy
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Purgato M, Prina E, Ceccarelli C, Cadorin C, Abdulmalik JO, Amaddeo F, Arcari L, Churchill R, Jordans MJ, Lund C, Papola D, Uphoff E, van Ginneken N, Tol WA, Barbui C. Primary-level and community worker interventions for the prevention of mental disorders and the promotion of well-being in low- and middle-income countries. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2023; 10:CD014722. [PMID: 37873968 PMCID: PMC10594594 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd014722.pub2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a significant research gap in the field of universal, selective, and indicated prevention interventions for mental health promotion and the prevention of mental disorders. Barriers to closing the research gap include scarcity of skilled human resources, large inequities in resource distribution and utilization, and stigma. OBJECTIVES To assess the effectiveness of delivery by primary workers of interventions for the promotion of mental health and universal prevention, and for the selective and indicated prevention of mental disorders or symptoms of mental illness in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). To examine the impact of intervention delivery by primary workers on resource use and costs. SEARCH METHODS We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Global Index Medicus, PsycInfo, WHO ICTRP, and ClinicalTrials.gov from inception to 29 November 2021. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of primary-level and/or community health worker interventions for promoting mental health and/or preventing mental disorders versus any control conditions in adults and children in LMICs. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Standardized mean differences (SMD) or mean differences (MD) were used for continuous outcomes, and risk ratios (RR) for dichotomous data, using a random-effects model. We analyzed data at 0 to 1, 1 to 6, and 7 to 24 months post-intervention. For SMDs, 0.20 to 0.49 represented small, 0.50 to 0.79 moderate, and ≥ 0.80 large clinical effects. We evaluated the risk of bias (RoB) using Cochrane RoB2. MAIN RESULTS Description of studies We identified 113 studies with 32,992 participants (97 RCTs, 19,570 participants in meta-analyses) for inclusion. Nineteen RCTs were conducted in low-income countries, 27 in low-middle-income countries, 2 in middle-income countries, 58 in upper-middle-income countries and 7 in mixed settings. Eighty-three RCTs included adults and 30 RCTs included children. Cadres of primary-level workers employed primary care health workers (38 studies), community workers (71 studies), both (2 studies), and not reported (2 studies). Interventions were universal prevention/promotion in 22 studies, selective in 36, and indicated prevention in 55 RCTs. Risk of bias The most common concerns over risk of bias were performance bias, attrition bias, and reporting bias. Intervention effects 'Probably', 'may', or 'uncertain' indicates 'moderate-', 'low-', or 'very low-'certainty evidence. *Certainty of the evidence (using GRADE) was assessed at 0 to 1 month post-intervention as specified in the review protocol. In the abstract, we did not report results for outcomes for which evidence was missing or very uncertain. Adults Promotion/universal prevention, compared to usual care: - probably slightly reduced anxiety symptoms (MD -0.14, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.27 to -0.01; 1 trial, 158 participants) - may slightly reduce distress/PTSD symptoms (SMD -0.24, 95% CI -0.41 to -0.08; 4 trials, 722 participants) Selective prevention, compared to usual care: - probably slightly reduced depressive symptoms (SMD -0.69, 95% CI -1.08 to -0.30; 4 trials, 223 participants) Indicated prevention, compared to usual care: - may reduce adverse events (1 trial, 547 participants) - probably slightly reduced functional impairment (SMD -0.12, 95% CI -0.39 to -0.15; 4 trials, 663 participants) Children Promotion/universal prevention, compared to usual care: - may improve the quality of life (SMD -0.25, 95% CI -0.39 to -0.11; 2 trials, 803 participants) - may reduce adverse events (1 trial, 694 participants) - may slightly reduce depressive symptoms (MD -3.04, 95% CI -6 to -0.08; 1 trial, 160 participants) - may slightly reduce anxiety symptoms (MD -2.27, 95% CI -3.13 to -1.41; 1 trial, 183 participants) Selective prevention, compared to usual care: - probably slightly reduced depressive symptoms (SMD 0, 95% CI -0.16 to -0.15; 2 trials, 638 participants) - may slightly reduce anxiety symptoms (MD 4.50, 95% CI -12.05 to 21.05; 1 trial, 28 participants) - probably slightly reduced distress/PTSD symptoms (MD -2.14, 95% CI -3.77 to -0.51; 1 trial, 159 participants) Indicated prevention, compared to usual care: - decreased slightly functional impairment (SMD -0.29, 95% CI -0.47 to -0.10; 2 trials, 448 participants) - decreased slightly depressive symptoms (SMD -0.18, 95% CI -0.32 to -0.04; 4 trials, 771 participants) - may slightly reduce distress/PTSD symptoms (SMD 0.24, 95% CI -1.28 to 1.76; 2 trials, 448 participants). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS The evidence indicated that prevention interventions delivered through primary workers - a form of task-shifting - may improve mental health outcomes. Certainty in the evidence was influenced by the risk of bias and by substantial levels of heterogeneity. A supportive network of infrastructure and research would enhance and reinforce this delivery modality across LMICs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianna Purgato
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
- Cochrane Global Mental Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Eleonora Prina
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Caterina Ceccarelli
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Camilla Cadorin
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Verona, Italy
| | | | - Francesco Amaddeo
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | | | - Rachel Churchill
- Cochrane Common Mental Disorders, Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, University of York, York, UK
| | - Mark Jd Jordans
- Centre for Global Mental Health, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Crick Lund
- King's Global Health Institute, Centre for Global Mental Health, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Davide Papola
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
- Cochrane Global Mental Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Eleonora Uphoff
- Cochrane Common Mental Disorders, Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, University of York, York, UK
| | - Nadja van Ginneken
- Department of Primary Care and Mental Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Wietse Anton Tol
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Corrado Barbui
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
- Cochrane Global Mental Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
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9
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Augustinavicius J, Purgato M, Tedeschi F, Musci R, Leku MR, Carswell K, Lakin D, van Ommeren M, Cuijpers P, Sijbrandij M, Karyotaki E, Tol WA, Barbui C. Prevention and promotion effects of Self Help Plus: secondary analysis of cluster randomised controlled trial data among South Sudanese refugee women in Uganda. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e048043. [PMID: 37699637 PMCID: PMC10503328 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-048043] [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: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Evidence-based and scalable prevention and promotion focused mental health and psychosocial support interventions are needed for conflict-affected populations in humanitarian settings. This study retrospectively assessed whether participation in Self Help Plus (SH+) versus enhanced usual care (EUC) resulted in reduced incidence of probable mental disorder and increased positive mental health and well-being post-intervention among South Sudanese refugee women in Uganda. METHODS This study used secondary data from treatment-oriented pilot (n=50) and fully-powered cluster randomised controlled trials (cRCT)s (n=694) of SH+ versus EUC. Data from baseline and post-intervention assessments were combined. A composite latent indicator for mental health problems was generated using mental health and well-being measures included in both cRCTs. In order to assess incidence, a binary variable approximating probable mental disorder was created to exclude those with probable mental disorder from the analysis sample and as the primary prevention outcome. The promotive effects of SH+ relative to EUC were examined in the same sample by assessing subjective well-being and psychological flexibility scale scores. RESULTS A single factor for mental health problems was identified with all factor loadings >0.30 and acceptable internal consistency (α=0.70). We excluded 161 women who met criteria for probable mental disorder at baseline. Among those with at least moderate psychological distress but without probable mental disorder at baseline and with follow-up data (n=538), the incidence of probable mental disorder at post-intervention was lower among those who participated in SH+ relative to EUC (Risk ratio =0.16, 95% CI: 0.05 to 0.53). Participation in SH+ versus EUC was also associated with increased subjective well-being (β=2.62, 95% CI: 1.63 to 3.60) and psychological flexibility (β=4.55, 95% CI: 2.92 to 6.18) at post-intervention assessment. CONCLUSIONS These results support the use and further testing of SH+ as a selective and indicated prevention and promotion focused psychosocial intervention in humanitarian settings. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER ISRCTN50148022.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jura Augustinavicius
- School of Population and Global Health, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
- Department of Mental Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Marianna Purgato
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Mental Health and Service Evaluation, Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine, and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Veneto, Italy
- Cochrane Global Mental Health, University of Verona, Verona, Veneto, Italy
| | - Federico Tedeschi
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Mental Health and Service Evaluation, Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine, and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Veneto, Italy
- Cochrane Global Mental Health, University of Verona, Verona, Veneto, Italy
| | - Rashelle Musci
- Department of Mental Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Kenneth Carswell
- Department of Mental Health and Substance Use, World Health Organization, Geneve, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Lakin
- Department of Mental Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Mark van Ommeren
- Department of Mental Health and Substance Use, World Health Organization, Geneve, Switzerland
| | - Pim Cuijpers
- Department of Clinical, Neuro- and Developmental Psychology, Section of Clinical Psychology, Vrije Univ Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- WHO Collaborating Center for Research and Dissemination of Psychological Interventions and Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Marit Sijbrandij
- Department of Clinical, Neuro- and Developmental Psychology, Section of Clinical Psychology, Vrije Univ Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- WHO Collaborating Center for Research and Dissemination of Psychological Interventions and Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Eirini Karyotaki
- Department of Clinical, Neuro- and Developmental Psychology, Section of Clinical Psychology, Vrije Univ Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- WHO Collaborating Center for Research and Dissemination of Psychological Interventions and Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Wietse A Tol
- Global Health Section, University of Copenhagen, Kobenhavn, Denmark
- Athena Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- HealthRight International, New York city, New York, USA
| | - Corrado Barbui
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Mental Health and Service Evaluation, Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine, and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Veneto, Italy
- Cochrane Global Mental Health, University of Verona, Verona, Veneto, Italy
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10
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Hermosilla S, Forthal S, Sadowska K, Magill EB, Watson P, Pike KM. We need to build the evidence: A systematic review of psychological first aid on mental health and well-being. J Trauma Stress 2023; 36:5-16. [PMID: 36300605 PMCID: PMC10624106 DOI: 10.1002/jts.22888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Ensuring effective mental health and psychosocial support is crucial following exposure to a potentially traumatic event and can have long-term consequences for individuals, families, and communities. Psychological first aid (PFA) has become a widespread intervention of choice following exposure to conflict or disaster; however, its impact is unknown. This systematic review assessed PFA efficacy in improving the mental health and psychosocial well-being of individuals exposed to potentially traumatic events. We searched PubMed, PsycINFO, PTSDpubs, and EMBASE for peer reviewed studies evaluating programmatic outcomes of PFA, or an adapted intervention, published in English before March 9, 2021. Studies evaluating training outcomes or program feasibility were excluded. The primary outcomes were reported measures of participant mental health and psychosocial well-being, with narrative results presented for each. The Cochrane Risk of Bias tool was applied. Of 9,048 potentially eligible citations, 12 studies with a total of 1,437 participants met the inclusion criteria. Only one study was a randomized controlled trial. The findings from all studies suggest a positive impact of PFA, with most reporting reduced symptoms of anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress, and distress, as well as improved ratings of mood, the experience of safety, connectedness, and a sense of control, among youth and adults. Risk of bias was generally high. Inconsistent intervention components, insufficient evaluation methodologies, and a high risk of bias within the reviewed studies present challenges in assessing PFA efficacy, and an imbalance between popular support for PFA and scant evidence of outcome data exists. Further research is needed to justify the proliferation of PFA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Hermosilla
- Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Sarah Forthal
- Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | | | - Elizabeth B. Magill
- Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Patricia Watson
- National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Washington, D.C., USA
| | - Kathleen M. Pike
- Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
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11
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Ceccarelli C, Prina E, Muneghina O, Jordans M, Barker E, Miller K, Singh R, Acarturk C, Sorsdhal K, Cuijpers P, Lund C, Barbui C, Purgato M. Adverse childhood experiences and global mental health: avenues to reduce the burden of child and adolescent mental disorders. Epidemiol Psychiatr Sci 2022; 31:e75. [PMID: 36245402 PMCID: PMC9583628 DOI: 10.1017/s2045796022000580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Mental disorders are one of the largest contributors to the burden of disease globally, this holds also for children and adolescents, especially in low- and middle-income countries. The prevalence and severity of these disorders are influenced by social determinants, including exposure to adversity. When occurring early in life, these latter events are referred to as adverse childhood experiences (ACEs).In this editorial, we provide an overview of the literature on the role of ACEs as social determinants of mental health through the lenses of global mental health. While the relation between ACEs and mental health has been extensively explored, most research was centred in higher income contexts. We argue that findings from the realm of global mental health should be integrated into that of ACEs, e.g. through preventative and responsive psychosocial interventions for children, adolescents and their caregivers. The field of global mental health should also undertake active efforts to better address ACEs in its initiatives, all with the goal of reducing the burden of mental disorders among children and adolescents globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- C. Ceccarelli
- Global Program Expert Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support, SOS Children's Villages, Milan, Italy
- Department of Psychology, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, London, UK
| | - E. Prina
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Mental Health and Service Evaluation, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - O. Muneghina
- Global Program Expert Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support, SOS Children's Villages, Milan, Italy
| | - M. Jordans
- War Child, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - E. Barker
- Department of Psychology, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, London, UK
| | - K. Miller
- Faculty of Education, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - R. Singh
- Research Department, Transcultural Psychosocial Organization Nepal, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - C. Acarturk
- Department of Psychology, College of Social Sciences and Humanities, Koc University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - K. Sorsdhal
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - P. Cuijpers
- Department of Clinical, Neuro, and Developmental Psychology, Amsterdam Public Health Institute, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Dissemination of Psychological Interventions, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Babeș-Bolyai University, International Institute for Psychotherapy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - C. Lund
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Health Service and Population Research Department, King's Global Health Institute, Centre for Global Mental Health, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College, London, UK
| | - C. Barbui
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Mental Health and Service Evaluation, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
- Cochrane Global Mental Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - M. Purgato
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Mental Health and Service Evaluation, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
- Cochrane Global Mental Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
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12
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Greene MC, Bonz A, Cristobal M, Vega C, Andersen LS, Angulo A, Armijos A, Guevara ME, Benavides L, de la Cruz A, Lopez MJ, Moyano A, Murcia A, Noboa MJ, Rodriguez A, Solis J, Vergara D, Scharf J, Dutt P, Wainberg M, Tol WA. Evaluating the feasibility of a group psychosocial intervention for migrant and host community women in Ecuador and Panamá: protocol for a multi-site feasibility cluster trial. Pilot Feasibility Stud 2022; 8:126. [PMID: 35706068 PMCID: PMC9198203 DOI: 10.1186/s40814-022-01085-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Community- and strengths-based psychosocial interventions are central to mental health and psychosocial support guidelines, but rigorous evidence regarding the effectiveness of these interventions is limited. The complexity and variability that is inherent to many community-based psychosocial interventions requires innovative strategies in order to facilitate the comparability and synthesis across research studies without compromising the fit and appropriateness of interventions to specific study populations and context. Entre Nosotras is a community-based psychosocial intervention developed for migrant and host community women that is designed to be flexible enough to enable integration of external intervention components and adaptable to diverse study contexts and populations. This protocol describes a study that aims to evaluate the appropriateness, acceptability, and feasibility of integrating a standardized stress management intervention into Entre Nosotras. METHODS This study will evaluate the appropriateness, acceptability, feasibility, and safety of intervention and research procedures for a cluster randomized comparative effectiveness trial conducted in Ecuador and Panamá with migrant and host community women. In this feasibility trial, we will allocate communities nested within the three study sites to the integrated Entre Nosotras + stress management intervention versus Entre Nosotras alone through stratified randomization. Migrant and host community women residing in these study communities who report low to moderate levels of distress will be allocated to the intervention condition that their community is assigned (n = 220 total). We will collect quantitative measures of psychosocial wellbeing, psychological distress, coping, social support, and functioning from study participants. We will collect quantitative measures of fidelity and facilitator competencies through observation and facilitator self-assessment. Data on appropriateness, acceptability, feasibility, and safety will be gathered from participants and facilitators through quantitative assessments at 0, 5, and 10 weeks post-enrollment and qualitative interviews conducted with all facilitators and a subset of 70 study participants during the post-intervention follow-up period. DISCUSSION Results from this feasibility trial will determine whether a multi-site cluster randomized comparative effectiveness trial of an adaptable community-based psychosocial intervention for migrant and host community women is relevant, acceptable, and feasible. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05130944 . Registered November 23, 2021-retrospectively registered.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Claire Greene
- Program on Forced Migration and Health, Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York City, USA.
| | | | | | | | - Lena S Andersen
- Global Health Section, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Jodi Scharf
- Program on Forced Migration and Health, Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York City, USA
| | - Priya Dutt
- Program on Forced Migration and Health, Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York City, USA
| | - Milton Wainberg
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University/New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York City, USA
| | - Wietse A Tol
- Global Health Section, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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13
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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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14
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Farida F, Livana PH. Family Characteristics Related to Family Support in Caring for Mental Disorder Patients. Open Access Maced J Med Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.3889/oamjms.2022.7496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Mental disorders currently experience a very significant increase, and every year in various parts of the world the number of people with mental disorders increases. The main symptoms or symptoms that are prominent in mental disorders are in the psychiatric elements, but the main causes may be in the body (somatogenic), in the social environment (sociogenic) or psychic (psychogenic). Usually there is no single cause, but several causes at the same time. which influence each other or happen together, then arises body or soul disorders. The research design using descriptive correlation study with the research subjects were the families of patients who took patients in the psychiatric hospital of Dr. H. Soewondo numbered 145 families taken using accidental sampling technique. Data were analyzed using chi-square test. The results of the study show that there was a relationship between age, sex, and education with family support in caring for Mental disorders (p value <0.005).
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Medved S, Imširagić AS, Salopek I, Puljić D, Handl H, Kovač M, Peleš AM, Štimac Grbic D, Romančuk L, MuŽić R, Zeeman LS, Kuzman MR. Case Series: Managing Severe Mental Illness in Disaster Situation: the Croatian Experience After 2020 Earthquake. Front Psychiatry 2022; 12:795661. [PMID: 35185639 PMCID: PMC8847377 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.795661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
On the 29th of December 2020, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Petrinja in the Croatian Sisak-Moslavina County experienced a strong earthquake, resulting in a severe disruption in mental health service delivery. Specialized care community mental health teams were introduced days within the event with the aim to bridge the gap in psychiatric care that was severely disturbed in the region affected by the earthquake. Through a case series of patients with SMI, we describe how care was quickly deployed and delivered after a natural disaster and during a pandemic resulting in their functional recovery. Community mental health teams have the potential to provide feasible, comprehensive, and accessible mental health services, and their continued implementation in the post-disaster period in Croatia could be beneficial for care management of people with severe mental illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Medved
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine, Zagreb University Hospital Centre, Zagreb, Croatia
| | | | - Igor Salopek
- Department of Psychiatry, General Hospital Karlovac, Karlovac, Croatia
| | - Dragan Puljić
- Neuropsychiatric Hospital “Dr Ivan Barbot”, Popovača, Croatia
| | - Hrvoje Handl
- University Psychiatric Clinic “Sveti Ivan”, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Marina Kovač
- Neuropsychiatric Hospital “Dr Ivan Barbot”, Popovača, Croatia
| | - Alma Mihaljević Peleš
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine, Zagreb University Hospital Centre, Zagreb, Croatia
- School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Danijela Štimac Grbic
- School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
- Croatian Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Luka Romančuk
- Department of Psychiatry, General Hospital Karlovac, Karlovac, Croatia
| | - Roberto MuŽić
- Croatian Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Laura Shields Zeeman
- Department of Mental Health Prevention, Trimbos Institute (Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction), Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Martina Rojnić Kuzman
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine, Zagreb University Hospital Centre, Zagreb, Croatia
- School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
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16
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Purgato M, Singh R, Acarturk C, Cuijpers P. Moving beyond a 'one-size-fits-all' rationale in global mental health: prospects of a precision psychology paradigm. Epidemiol Psychiatr Sci 2021; 30:e63. [PMID: 34632978 PMCID: PMC8518023 DOI: 10.1017/s2045796021000500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Research on the effectiveness of mental health and psychosocial support interventions for common mental disorders in global mental health provides controversial results. These results are based on mean values for different groups, often without due consideration of individual-level characteristics and contextual factors. Against this background, and based on the recent development of a precision theoretical framework in clinical psychology, which is calling for a renewed perspective on the development and implementation of trial designs, we propose to develop a precision psychology paradigm in global mental health, with emphasis not only on individual clinical and socio-demographic data, but also on the social determinants of mental health. A precision psychology paradigm would require a coordinated action of academics, stakeholders and humanitarian workers in planning a global mental health research agenda, including the design of trials aimed at reliably approximate prediction of intervention response at individual level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianna Purgato
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Mental Health and Service Evaluation, University of Verona, Verona,Italy
- Cochrane Global Mental Health, University of Verona, Verona,Italy
| | - Rakesh Singh
- Department of Public Health, Independent Mental Health Researcher, Visiting Faculty, KIST Medical College, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Ceren Acarturk
- Department of Psychology, College of Social Sciences and Humanities, Koc University, Istanbul,Turkey
| | - Pim Cuijpers
- Department of Clinical, Neuro, and Developmental Psychology, Amsterdam Public Health Institute, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Dissemination of Psychological Interventions, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Brunet A, Sapkota RP, Guragain B, Tremblay J, Saumier D, Kirmayer LJ. Tackling the global problem of traumatic stress in low-income countries: a pilot clinical trial comparing reconsolidation therapy to paroxetine in Nepal. BMC Psychiatry 2021; 21:434. [PMID: 34479508 PMCID: PMC8417983 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-021-03441-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Traumatic stress is a global mental health problem requiring novel, easily implemented treatment solutions. We compared the effectiveness and efficiency of Reconsolidation Therapy (RT) to the well-established antidepressant paroxetine, in reducing symptoms of traumatic stress among patients from Nepal, a low-income country. METHODS Forty-six adults with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were randomized to one of two groups. The reconsolidation blocker propranolol was administered 90 min before briefly recalling a traumatic memory with a therapist, weekly for six consecutive weeks. This was compared to daily paroxetine for 26 weeks. Self-reported PTSD symptoms were assessed blindly at the 7th, 13th, and 26th weeks. RESULTS An intent-to-treat analysis revealed a robust pre- to post-treatment main effect (β1 = - 4.83, 95% CI = [- 5.66, - 4.01], p < .001), whereby both groups improved, with Cohen's effect sizes of d = 2.34 (95% CI = [1.57, 3.12]) for paroxetine, and of 2.82 (95% CI = [1.98, 3.66]) for RT after 7 weeks, suggesting treatment effectiveness for both groups in a real-world setting. Three and six-month follow-up yielded further significant improvement in both groups, which did not differ from each other. CONCLUSION RT also displayed promising efficiency, considering that it had been discontinued weeks earlier while the paroxetine treatment was continued, as recommended. RT could be taught in low-income countries as part of the local therapeutic resources to treat the core symptoms of PTSD, provided that such results are replicated on a broader scale. TRIAL REGISTRATION ISRCTN34308454 (11/10/2017).
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Affiliation(s)
- Alain Brunet
- Research Centre of the Douglas Mental Health University Institute, and Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, 6875 boulevard LaSalle, Montréal, Quebec, H4H 1R3, Canada.
| | - Ram P Sapkota
- Research Centre of the Douglas Mental Health University Institute, and Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, 6875 boulevard LaSalle, Montréal, Quebec, H4H 1R3, Canada
- Division of Social and Transcultural Psychiatry, Global Mental Health Program, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | | | - Jacques Tremblay
- Research Centre of the Douglas Mental Health University Institute, and Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, 6875 boulevard LaSalle, Montréal, Quebec, H4H 1R3, Canada
| | - Daniel Saumier
- Research Centre of the Douglas Mental Health University Institute, and Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, 6875 boulevard LaSalle, Montréal, Quebec, H4H 1R3, Canada
| | - Laurence J Kirmayer
- Division of Social and Transcultural Psychiatry, Global Mental Health Program, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Culture and Mental Health Research Unit, Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, QC, Canada
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18
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Tay AK, Miah MAA, Khan S, Mohsin M, Alam AM, Ozen S, Mahmuda M, Ahmed HU, Silove D, Ventevogel P. A Naturalistic Evaluation of Group Integrative Adapt Therapy (IAT-G) with Rohingya Refugees During the Emergency Phase of a Mass Humanitarian Crisis in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. EClinicalMedicine 2021; 38:100999. [PMID: 34505027 PMCID: PMC8413262 DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2021.100999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 06/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Studies of scalable psychological interventions in humanitarian setting are usually carried out when the acute emergency has stabilized. We report the first evaluation of an evidence-based group psychological intervention, Group Integrative Adapt Therapy (IAT-G), during the emergency phase of a mass humanitarian crisis amongst Rohingya refugees in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. Methods: We did a pragmatic naturalistic evaluation (2018-2020) of a seven-session group intervention with adult Rohingya refugees with elevated symptoms of depression (≥10 on the Patient Health Questionnaire) and/or posttraumatic stress disorder, PTSD, (≥3 on the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder-8), and functional impairment (≥17 on WHO Disability Assessment Schedule or WHODAS-brief). Screening was done across the most densely populated campsites. Blind assessments were completed at baseline, posttreatment, and at 3-month follow-up using culturally adapted measures of depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress symptoms, complicated bereavement, adaptive stress associated with disrupted psychosocial support systems, functional impairment, and resilience. Findings: 383 persons were screened and of the 144 persons who met inclusion criteria all participated in the group intervention. Compared to baseline scores, IAT-G participants recorded significantly lower mean scores on key outcome indices (mental health symptoms, adaptive stress, and functional impairment) at posttreatment and 3-month follow-up (all pairwise tests significant Ps<.05). From baseline to 3-month follow-up, score changes were greatest for functional impairment (d = 2.24), anxiety (d = 2.15) and depression (d = 1.9), followed by PTSD symptoms (d = 1.17). Interpretation: A group-based intervention designed specifically to reflect the refugee experience and adapted to the language and culture, showed positive outcomes in the context of a pragmatic, naturalistic trial implemented in a mass humanitarian emergency. Funding: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees; National Health and Medical Research Council Australia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alvin Kuowei Tay
- School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Australia
- Mental Health Academic Unit, Liverpool Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Correspondence: Alvin Kuowei Tay, : School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Australia.
| | | | - Sanjida Khan
- Independent Researcher, Bangladesh
- Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Mohammed Mohsin
- School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Australia
| | - A.N.M. Mahmudul Alam
- Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Subunit, Public Health & Nutrition Unit, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh
| | - Sanem Ozen
- Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | | | - Helal U. Ahmed
- Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
- Department of Psychology, Jagannath University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Derrick Silove
- School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Australia
| | - Peter Ventevogel
- National Institute of Mental Health, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Public Health Section, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Geneva, Switzerland
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19
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Fusar‐Poli P, Correll CU, Arango C, Berk M, Patel V, Ioannidis JP. Preventive psychiatry: a blueprint for improving the mental health of young people. World Psychiatry 2021; 20:200-221. [PMID: 34002494 PMCID: PMC8129854 DOI: 10.1002/wps.20869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 184] [Impact Index Per Article: 61.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Preventive approaches have latterly gained traction for improving mental health in young people. In this paper, we first appraise the conceptual foundations of preventive psychiatry, encompassing the public health, Gordon's, US Institute of Medicine, World Health Organization, and good mental health frameworks, and neurodevelopmentally-sensitive clinical staging models. We then review the evidence supporting primary prevention of psychotic, bipolar and common mental disorders and promotion of good mental health as potential transformative strategies to reduce the incidence of these disorders in young people. Within indicated approaches, the clinical high-risk for psychosis paradigm has received the most empirical validation, while clinical high-risk states for bipolar and common mental disorders are increasingly becoming a focus of attention. Selective approaches have mostly targeted familial vulnerability and non-genetic risk exposures. Selective screening and psychological/psychoeducational interventions in vulnerable subgroups may improve anxiety/depressive symptoms, but their efficacy in reducing the incidence of psychotic/bipolar/common mental disorders is unproven. Selective physical exercise may reduce the incidence of anxiety disorders. Universal psychological/psychoeducational interventions may improve anxiety symptoms but not prevent depressive/anxiety disorders, while universal physical exercise may reduce the incidence of anxiety disorders. Universal public health approaches targeting school climate or social determinants (demographic, economic, neighbourhood, environmental, social/cultural) of mental disorders hold the greatest potential for reducing the risk profile of the population as a whole. The approach to promotion of good mental health is currently fragmented. We leverage the knowledge gained from the review to develop a blueprint for future research and practice of preventive psychiatry in young people: integrating universal and targeted frameworks; advancing multivariable, transdiagnostic, multi-endpoint epidemiological knowledge; synergically preventing common and infrequent mental disorders; preventing physical and mental health burden together; implementing stratified/personalized prognosis; establishing evidence-based preventive interventions; developing an ethical framework, improving prevention through education/training; consolidating the cost-effectiveness of preventive psychiatry; and decreasing inequalities. These goals can only be achieved through an urgent individual, societal, and global level response, which promotes a vigorous collaboration across scientific, health care, societal and governmental sectors for implementing preventive psychiatry, as much is at stake for young people with or at risk for emerging mental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Fusar‐Poli
- Early Psychosis: Interventions and Clinical‐detection (EPIC) Lab, Department of Psychosis StudiesInstitute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College LondonLondonUK,OASIS Service, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation TrustLondonUK,Department of Brain and Behavioral SciencesUniversity of PaviaPaviaItaly
| | - Christoph U. Correll
- Department of PsychiatryZucker Hillside Hospital, Northwell HealthGlen OaksNYUSA,Department of Psychiatry and Molecular MedicineZucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/NorthwellHempsteadNYUSA,Center for Psychiatric NeuroscienceFeinstein Institute for Medical ResearchManhassetNYUSA,Department of Child and Adolescent PsychiatryCharité Universitätsmedizin BerlinBerlinGermany
| | - Celso Arango
- Department of Child and Adolescent PsychiatryInstitute of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio MarañónMadridSpain,Health Research Institute (IiGSM), School of MedicineUniversidad Complutense de MadridMadridSpain,Biomedical Research Center for Mental Health (CIBERSAM)MadridSpain
| | - Michael Berk
- Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, School of Medicine, Deakin UniversityBarwon HealthGeelongVICAustralia,Department of PsychiatryUniversity of MelbourneMelbourneVICAustralia,Orygen Youth HealthUniversity of MelbourneMelbourneVICAustralia,Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental HealthUniversity of MelbourneMelbourneVICAustralia
| | - Vikram Patel
- Department of Global Health and Social MedicineHarvard University T.H. Chan School of Public HealthBostonMAUSA,Department of Global Health and PopulationHarvard T.H. Chan School of Public HealthBostonMAUSA
| | - John P.A. Ioannidis
- Stanford Prevention Research Center, Department of MedicineStanford UniversityStanfordCAUSA,Department of Biomedical Data ScienceStanford UniversityStanfordCAUSA,Department of Epidemiology and Population HealthStanford UniversityStanfordCAUSA
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20
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Miller KE, Jordans MJD, Tol WA, Galappatti A. A call for greater conceptual clarity in the field of mental health and psychosocial support in humanitarian settings. Epidemiol Psychiatr Sci 2021; 30:e5. [PMID: 33413736 PMCID: PMC8057504 DOI: 10.1017/s2045796020001110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Revised: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS When the Interagency Standing Committee (IASC) adopted the composite term mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) and published its guidelines for MHPSS in emergency settings in 2007, it aimed to build consensus and strengthen coordination among relevant humanitarian actors. The term MHPSS offered an inclusive tent by welcoming the different terminologies, explanatory models and intervention methods of diverse actors across several humanitarian sectors (e.g., health, protection, education, nutrition). Since its introduction, the term has become well-established within the global humanitarian system. However, it has also been critiqued for papering over substantive differences in the intervention priorities and conceptual frameworks that inform the wide range of interventions described as MHPSS. Our aims are to clarify those conceptual frameworks, to argue for their essential complementarity and to illustrate the perils of failing to adequately consider the causal models and theories of change that underlie our interventions. METHODS We describe the historical backdrop against which the term MHPSS and the IASC guidelines were developed, as well as their impact on improving relations and coordination among different aid sectors. We consider the conceptual fuzziness in the field of MHPSS and the lack of clear articulation of the different conceptual frameworks that guide interventions. We describe the explanatory models and intervention approaches of two primary frameworks within MHPSS, which we label clinical and social-environmental. Using the examples of intimate partner violence and compromised parenting in humanitarian settings, we illustrate the complementarity of these two frameworks, as well as the challenges that can arise when either framework is inappropriately applied. RESULTS Clinical interventions prioritise the role of intrapersonal variables, biological and/or psychological, as mediators of change in the treatment of distress. Social-environmental interventions emphasise the role of social determinants of distress and target factors in the social and material environments in order to lower distress and increase resilience in the face of adversity. Both approaches play a critical role in humanitarian settings; however, the rationale for adopting one or the other approach is commonly insufficiently articulated and should be based on a thorough assessment of causal processes at multiple levels of the social ecology. CONCLUSIONS Greater attention to the 'why' of our intervention choices and more explicit articulation of the causal models and theories of change that underlie those decisions (i.e., the 'how'), may strengthen intervention effects and minimise the risk of applying the inappropriate framework and actions to a particular problem.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - M. J. D. Jordans
- War Child Holland, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute of Social Science Research, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - W. A. Tol
- Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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21
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Fusar-Poli P. New Electronic Health Records Screening Tools to Improve Detection of Emerging Psychosis. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:698406. [PMID: 34335335 PMCID: PMC8316616 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.698406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Fusar-Poli
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.,Early Psychosis: Interventions and Clinical-Detection (EPIC) Lab, Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.,OASIS Service, South London and Maudsley National Health Service Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
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22
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Papola D, Ostuzzi G, Gastaldon C, Purgato M, Del Giovane C, Pompoli A, Karyotaki E, Sijbrandij M, Furukawa TA, Cuijpers P, Barbui C. Which psychotherapy is effective in panic disorder? And which delivery formats are supported by the evidence? Study protocol for two systematic reviews and network meta-analyses. BMJ Open 2020; 10:e038909. [PMID: 33372071 PMCID: PMC7772327 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-038909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Panic disorder is among the most prevalent anxiety diseases. Although psychotherapy is recommended as first-line treatment for panic disorder, little is known about the relative efficacy of different types of psychotherapies. Moreover, there is little evidence concerning the effectiveness of different formats of major psychotherapeutic types, such as cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT). In this protocol, we present an overarching project consisting of two systematic reviews and network meta-analyses (NMA) to shed light on which psychotherapy (NMA-1), and specifically, which CBT delivery format (NMA-2) should be considered most effective for adults suffering from panic disorder with or without agoraphobia. METHODS AND ANALYSES Starting from a common pool of data, we will conduct two systematic reviews and NMA of randomised controlled trials examining panic disorder. A comprehensive search will be performed in electronic databases MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO and the Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials-CENTRAL from database inception to 1 January 2021 to identify relevant studies. A systematic approach to searching, screening, reviewing and data extraction will be applied. Titles, abstract and-whenever necessary-full texts will be examined independently by at least two reviewers. The quality of the included studies will be assessed using the revised Cochrane risk of bias tool V.2. The primary efficacy outcome will be anxiety symptoms at study endpoint. The primary acceptability outcome will be all-cause discontinuation, as measured by the proportion of patients who had discontinued treatment for any reason at endpoint. Data will be pooled using a random-effects model. Pairwise and NMA will be conducted. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION No ethical approval is necessary for these two studies, as there will be no collection of primary data. The results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and presentations at national and international conferences and meetings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Papola
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Mental Health and Service Evaluation; Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences; Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Giovanni Ostuzzi
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Mental Health and Service Evaluation; Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences; Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Chiara Gastaldon
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Mental Health and Service Evaluation; Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences; Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Marianna Purgato
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Mental Health and Service Evaluation; Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences; Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Cinzia Del Giovane
- Institute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Eirini Karyotaki
- Department of Clinical, Neuro and Developmental Psychology, Amsterdam Public Health research institute, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Marit Sijbrandij
- Department of Clinical, Neuro and Developmental Psychology, Amsterdam Public Health research institute, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Toshi A Furukawa
- Departments of Health Promotion and Human Behavior, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine/School of Public Health, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Pim Cuijpers
- Department of Clinical, Neuro and Developmental Psychology, Amsterdam Public Health research institute, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Corrado Barbui
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Mental Health and Service Evaluation; Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences; Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
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23
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Papola D, Purgato M, Gastaldon C, Bovo C, van Ommeren M, Barbui C, Tol WA. Psychological and social interventions for the prevention of mental disorders in people living in low- and middle-income countries affected by humanitarian crises. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2020; 9:CD012417. [PMID: 32897548 PMCID: PMC8094402 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd012417.pub2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND People living in 'humanitarian settings' in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are exposed to a constellation of physical and psychological stressors that make them vulnerable to developing mental disorders. A range of psychological and social interventions have been implemented with the aim to prevent the onset of mental disorders and/or lower psychological distress in populations at risk, and it is not known whether interventions are effective. OBJECTIVES To compare the efficacy and acceptability of psychological and social interventions versus control conditions (wait list, treatment as usual, attention placebo, psychological placebo, or no treatment) aimed at preventing the onset of non-psychotic mental disorders in people living in LMICs affected by humanitarian crises. SEARCH METHODS We searched the Cochrane Common Mental Disorders Controlled Trials Register (CCMD-CTR), the Cochrane Drugs and Alcohol Review Group (CDAG) Specialized Register, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE (OVID), Embase (OVID), PsycINFO (OVID), and ProQuest PILOTS database with results incorporated from searches to February 2020. We also searched the World Health Organization's (WHO) International Clinical Trials Registry Platform and ClinicalTrials.gov to identify unpublished or ongoing studies. We checked the reference lists of relevant studies and reviews. SELECTION CRITERIA All randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing psychological and social interventions versus control conditions to prevent the onset of mental disorders in adults and children living in LMICs affected by humanitarian crises. We excluded studies that enrolled participants based on a positive diagnosis of mental disorder (or based on a proxy of scoring above a cut-off score on a screening measure). DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS We calculated standardised mean differences for continuous outcomes and risk ratios for dichotomous data, using a random-effects model. We analysed data at endpoint (zero to four weeks after therapy) and at medium term (one to four months after intervention). No data were available at long term (six months or longer). We used GRADE to assess the quality of evidence. MAIN RESULTS In the present review we included seven RCTs with a total of 2398 participants, coming from both children/adolescents (five RCTs), and adults (two RCTs). Together, the seven RCTs compared six different psychosocial interventions against a control comparator (waiting list in all studies). All the interventions were delivered by paraprofessionals and, with the exception of one study, delivered at a group level. None of the included studies provided data on the efficacy of interventions to prevent the onset of mental disorders (incidence). For the primary outcome of acceptability, there may be no evidence of a difference between psychological and social interventions and control at endpoint for children and adolescents (RR 0.93, 95% CI 0.78 to 1.10; 5 studies, 1372 participants; low-quality evidence) or adults (RR 0.96, 95% CI 0.61 to 1.50; 2 studies, 767 participants; very low quality evidence). No information on adverse events related to the interventions was available. For children's and adolescents' secondary outcomes of prevention interventions, there may be no evidence of a difference between psychological and social intervention groups and control groups for reducing PTSD symptoms (standardised mean difference (SMD) -0.16, 95% CI -0.50 to 0.18; 3 studies, 590 participants; very low quality evidence), depressive symptoms (SMD -0.01, 95% CI -0.29 to 0.31; 4 RCTs, 746 participants; very low quality evidence) and anxiety symptoms (SMD 0.11, 95% CI -0.09 to 0.31; 3 studies, 632 participants; very low quality evidence) at study endpoint. In adults' secondary outcomes of prevention interventions, psychological counselling may be effective for reducing depressive symptoms (MD -7.50, 95% CI -9.19 to -5.81; 1 study, 258 participants; very low quality evidence) and anxiety symptoms (MD -6.10, 95% CI -7.57 to -4.63; 1 study, 258 participants; very low quality evidence) at endpoint. No data were available for PTSD symptoms in the adult population. Owing to the small number of RCTs included in the present review, it was not possible to carry out neither sensitivity nor subgroup analyses. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS Of the seven prevention studies included in this review, none assessed whether prevention interventions reduced the incidence of mental disorders and there may be no evidence for any differences in acceptability. Additionally, for both child and adolescent populations and adult populations, a very small number of RCTs with low quality evidence on the review's secondary outcomes (changes in symptomatology at endpoint) did not suggest any beneficial effect for the studied prevention interventions. Confidence in the findings is hampered by the scarcity of prevention studies eligible for inclusion in the review, by risk of bias in the studies, and by substantial levels of heterogeneity. Moreover, it is possible that random error had a role in distorting results, and that a more thorough picture of the efficacy of prevention interventions will be provided by future studies. For this reason, prevention studies are urgently needed to assess the impact of interventions on the incidence of mental disorders in children and adults, with extended periods of follow-up.
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Affiliation(s)
- 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
| | - 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
| | - Chiara Gastaldon
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
- Cochrane Global Mental Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Chiara Bovo
- Direzione Sanitaria, Azienda ULSS 20, Verona, Italy
| | - Mark van Ommeren
- Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - 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
| | - Wietse A Tol
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Section of Global Health, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Peter C. Alderman Program for Global Mental Health, HealthRight International, New York, NY, USA
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Purgato M, Gastaldon C, Papola D, van Ommeren M, Barbui C, Tol WA. Psychological therapies for the treatment of mental disorders in low- and middle-income countries affected by humanitarian crises. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2018; 7:CD011849. [PMID: 29975811 PMCID: PMC6513488 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd011849.pub2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND People living in humanitarian settings in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are exposed to a constellation of stressors that make them vulnerable to developing mental disorders. Mental disorders with a higher prevalence in these settings include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive, anxiety, somatoform (e.g. medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS)), and related disorders. A range of psychological therapies are used to manage symptoms of mental disorders in this population. OBJECTIVES To compare the effectiveness and acceptability of psychological therapies versus control conditions (wait list, treatment as usual, attention placebo, psychological placebo, or no treatment) aimed at treating people with mental disorders (PTSD and major depressive, anxiety, somatoform, and related disorders) living in LMICs affected by humanitarian crises. SEARCH METHODS We searched the Cochrane Common Mental Disorders Controlled Trials Register (CCMDCTR), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Wiley), MEDLINE (OVID), Embase (OVID), and PsycINFO (OVID), with results incorporated from searches to 3 February 2016. We also searched the World Health Organization (WHO) trials portal (ICTRP) and ClinicalTrials.gov to identify any unpublished or ongoing studies. We checked the reference lists of relevant studies and reviews. SELECTION CRITERIA All randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing psychological therapies versus control conditions (including no treatment, usual care, wait list, attention placebo, and psychological placebo) to treat adults and children with mental disorders living in LMICs affected by humanitarian crises. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS We used standard Cochrane procedures for collecting data and evaluating risk of bias. We calculated standardised mean differences for continuous outcomes and risk ratios for dichotomous data, using a random-effects model. We analysed data at endpoint (zero to four weeks after therapy); at medium term (one to four months after therapy); and at long term (six months or longer). GRADE (Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) was used to assess the quality of evidence for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety and withdrawal outcomes. MAIN RESULTS We included 36 studies (33 RCTs) with a total of 3523 participants. Included studies were conducted in sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and North Africa, and Asia. Studies were implemented in response to armed conflicts; disasters triggered by natural hazards; and other types of humanitarian crises. Together, the 33 RCTs compared eight psychological treatments against a control comparator.Four studies included children and adolescents between 5 and 18 years of age. Three studies included mixed populations (two studies included participants between 12 and 25 years of age, and one study included participants between 16 and 65 years of age). Remaining studies included adult populations (18 years of age or older).Included trials compared a psychological therapy versus a control intervention (wait list in most studies; no treatment; treatment as usual). Psychological therapies were categorised mainly as cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) in 23 comparisons (including seven comparisons focused on narrative exposure therapy (NET), two focused on common elements treatment approach (CETA), and one focused on brief behavioural activation treatment (BA)); eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) in two comparisons; interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) in three comparisons; thought field therapy (TFT) in three comparisons; and trauma or general supportive counselling in two comparisons. Although interventions were described under these categories, several psychotherapeutic elements were common to a range of therapies (i.e. psychoeducation, coping skills).In adults, psychological therapies may substantially reduce endpoint PTSD symptoms compared to control conditions (standardised mean difference (SMD) -1.07, 95% confidence interval (CI) -1.34 to -0.79; 1272 participants; 16 studies; low-quality evidence). The effect is smaller at one to four months (SMD -0.49, 95% CI -0.68 to -0.31; 1660 participants; 18 studies) and at six months (SMD -0.37, 95% CI -0.61 to -0.14; 400 participants; five studies). Psychological therapies may also substantially reduce endpoint depression symptoms compared to control conditions (SMD -0.86, 95% CI -1.06 to -0.67; 1254 participants; 14 studies; low-quality evidence). Similar to PTSD symptoms, follow-up data at one to four months showed a smaller effect on depression (SMD -0.42, 95% CI -0.63 to -0.21; 1386 participants; 16 studies). Psychological therapies may moderately reduce anxiety at endpoint (SMD -0.74, 95% CI -0.98 to -0.49; 694 participants; five studies; low-quality evidence) and at one to four months' follow-up after treatment (SMD -0.53, 95% CI -0.66 to -0.39; 969 participants; seven studies). Dropout rates are probably similar between study conditions (19.5% with control versus 19.1% with psychological therapy (RR 0.98 95% CI 0.82 to 1.16; 2930 participants; 23 studies, moderate quality evidence)).In children and adolescents, we found very low quality evidence for lower endpoint PTSD symptoms scores in psychotherapy conditions (CBT) compared to control conditions, although the confidence interval is wide (SMD -1.56, 95% CI -3.13 to 0.01; 130 participants; three studies;). No RCTs provided data on major depression or anxiety in children. The effect on withdrawal was uncertain (RR 1.87 95% CI 0.47 to 7.47; 138 participants; 3 studies, low quality evidence).We did not identify any studies that evaluated psychological treatments on (symptoms of) somatoform disorders or MUPS in LMIC humanitarian settings. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS There is low quality evidence that psychological therapies have large or moderate effects in reducing PTSD, depressive, and anxiety symptoms in adults living in humanitarian settings in LMICs. By one to four month and six month follow-up assessments treatment effects were smaller. Fewer trials were focused on children and adolescents and they provide very low quality evidence of a beneficial effect of psychological therapies in reducing PTSD symptoms at endpoint. Confidence in these findings is influenced by the risk of bias in the studies and by substantial levels of heterogeneity. More research evidence is needed, particularly for children and adolescents over longer periods of follow-up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianna Purgato
- University of VeronaDepartment of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of PsychiatryPiazzale LA Scuro 10VeronaItaly37134
- University of VeronaCochrane Global Mental HealthVeronaItaly
| | - Chiara Gastaldon
- University of VeronaDepartment of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of PsychiatryPiazzale LA Scuro 10VeronaItaly37134
- University of VeronaCochrane Global Mental HealthVeronaItaly
| | - Davide Papola
- University of VeronaDepartment of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of PsychiatryPiazzale LA Scuro 10VeronaItaly37134
- University of VeronaCochrane Global Mental HealthVeronaItaly
| | - Mark van Ommeren
- World Health OrganizationDepartment of Mental Health and Substance AbuseAvenue AppiaGenevaSwitzerlandCH‐1211
| | - Corrado Barbui
- University of VeronaDepartment of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of PsychiatryPiazzale LA Scuro 10VeronaItaly37134
- University of VeronaCochrane Global Mental HealthVeronaItaly
| | - Wietse A Tol
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthDepartment of Mental Health624 N BroadwayHampton HouseBaltimoreMarylandUSA
- HealthRight InternationalPeter C. Alderman Program for Global Mental HealthNew YorkUSA
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