Using Group Interpersonal Psychotherapy to Improve the Well-Being of Adolescent Girls

NCT ID: NCT03966833

Last Updated: 2022-11-08

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 1914 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2019-05-26
• Study Completion Date: 2022-09-30

Brief Summary

Adolescent girls in developing countries face high rates of adversity and are at an elevated risk of depression and other forms of psychological distress. Untreated depression can have negative consequences on life outcomes such as early pregnancies, social exclusion and school dropout. These can result in a cycle of poverty for young women and their families. Despite this being a very pressing problem there is little evidence on what types of interventions can help break the vicious cycle of poor mental health and poverty.

This research program aims to evaluate, through the use of a cluster-Randomized Control Trial (cluster- RCT), the effect of group-based interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT-G) and unconditional cash transfers on adolescent girls' mental health and social functioning. Working with Strong Minds Uganda in collaboration with BRAC Uganda's Empowerment and Livelihood for Adolescents (ELA) clubs, the evidence generated from this research will create a better understanding of whether adolescent mental health improves through this cost-effective approach, and whether improved mental health impacts other outcomes of interest.

Conditions

Mental Depression

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

group-based interpersonal therapy (IPT-G)

14 weeks of group-based interpersonal therapy (IPT-G): StrongMinds is focused on treating depression in Uganda by training community members (in this case ELA club mentors) to act as mentors in IPT-G techniques. This intervention will be offered to 13-19 year old young women who score a 10 or higher on the PHQ-8. These adolescents who take up the offer will then be enrolled in the 14 weeks of therapy. Group therapy sessions build bonds between young women and encourage them to actively engage in the healing process and to support each other in the exploration of their depression triggers. With new healthier patterns and skills, women can learn to manage their current depression and ensure future depressive episodes can be quickly identified and resolved before the onset of any long-term consequences.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

IPT-G

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

14 weeks of group-based interpersonal therapy (IPT-G)

IPT-G + Unconditional Cash Transfer:

A one time lump sum of 200,000 UGX (\~$54) be provided to all study participants in a random sub-set of intervention (IPT-G) clusters near or at the conclusion of the 14-week therapy. This treatment variation will allow for determination of whether complimentary income support enhances the effects of IPT-G on psychological wellbeing and other outcomes of interest.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

IPT-G

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

14 weeks of group-based interpersonal therapy (IPT-G)

Unconditional Cash Transfer

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Lump sum cash transfer

control

ELA clubs function as normal

Group Type: NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

IPT-G

14 weeks of group-based interpersonal therapy (IPT-G)

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Unconditional Cash Transfer

Lump sum cash transfer

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• 13-19 year old female who scores 10 or above on PHQ-8

Exclusion Criteria

• male
• Score below 10 on PHQ-8

• Minimum Eligible Age: 13 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 19 Years
• Eligible Sex: FEMALE
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Berk Ozler, The World Bank

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role: collaborator

George Washington University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Sarah Baird

Associate Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

BRAC Uganda

Kampala, , Uganda

Countries

Uganda

Other Identifiers

SMU/BRAC 2019

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id