The Shamiri group intervention for adolescent anxiety and depression: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial of a lay-provider-delivered, school-based intervention in Kenya.

Journal: Trials

Volume: 21

Issue: 1

Year of Publication: 2021

Affiliated Institutions:  Shamiri Institute, Nairobi, Kenya. osborn@shamiri.institute. Shamiri Institute, Nairobi, Kenya. Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA. Department of Psychology, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya. Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA.

Abstract summary 

Developing low-cost, socio-culturally appropriate, and scalable interventions for youth depression and anxiety symptoms in low-income regions such as countries in sub-Saharan Africa is a global mental health priority. We developed and intend to evaluate one such intervention for adolescent depression and anxiety in Kenya. The intervention, named Shamiri (a Swahili word for "thrive"), draws upon evidence-based components of brief interventions that involve nonclinical principles rather than treatment of psychopathology (e.g., growth mindset, gratitude, and virtues).Four hundred twenty Kenyan adolescents (ages 13-18) with clinically elevated depression and/or anxiety symptoms will be randomized to either the 4-week Shamiri group intervention or a group study-skills control intervention of equal duration and dosage. Participating adolescents will meet in groups of 8-15, led by a high-school graduate trained to deliver Shamiri as a lay-provider. Adolescents will self-report primary outcome measures (depression-measured by the PHQ-8, and anxiety symptoms-measured by the GAD-7) and secondary outcome measures (perceived social support, perceived academic control, self-reported optimism and happiness, loneliness, and academic grades) at the 2-week intervention midpoint, 4-week post-intervention endpoint, and 2-week post-intervention follow-up. We predict that adolescents in the Shamiri group, when compared to the study-skills control group, will show greater improvements in primary outcomes and secondary outcomes.Results may suggest that a brief, lay-provider delivered, school-based intervention may reduce depression and anxiety symptoms, improving academic outcomes and other psychosocial outcomes in adolescents with clinically-elevated symptoms in sub-Saharan Africa.Pan African Clinical Trials Registry PACTR201906525818462 . Registered on 12 June 2019.

Authors & Co-authors:  Osborn Venturo-Conerly Wasil Rodriguez Roe Alemu Arango G Gan Wasanga Schleider Weisz

Study Outcome 

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Statistics
Citations :  Collins PY, Patel V, Joestl SS, March D, Insel TR, Daar AS, et al. Grand challenges in global mental health. Nature. 2011;475:27. doi: 10.1038/475027a.
Authors :  11
Identifiers
Doi : 938
SSN : 1745-6215
Study Population
Male,Female
Mesh Terms
Adolescent
Other Terms
Adolescents;Anxiety;Depression;Global mental health;Shamiri;Sub-Saharan Africa
Study Design
Study Approach
Country of Study
Kenya
Publication Country
England