BMJ Open
Volume 9, Issue 5, 2019

Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of self-help plus (sh+) for preventing mental disorders in refugees and asylum seekers in Europe and Turkey: Study protocols for two randomised controlled trials (Article) (Open Access)

Purgato M.* , Carswell K. , Acarturk C. , Au T. , Akbai S. , Anttila M. , Baumgartner J. , Bailey D. , Biondi M. , Bird M. , Churchill R. , Eskici S. , Hansen L.J. , Heron P. , Ilkkursun Z. , Kilian R. , Koesters M. , Lantta T. , Nosè M. , Ostuzzi G. , Papola D. , Popa M. , Sijbrandij M. , Tarsitani L. , Tedeschi F. , Turrini G. , Uygun E. , Välimäki M.A. , Wancata J. , White R. , Zanini E. , Cuijpers P. , Barbui C. , Van Ommeren M.
  • a Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy, Cochrane Global Mental Health, Verona, Italy
  • b Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, World Health Organisation, Geneve, Switzerland
  • c Istanbul Sehir Universitesi, Istanbul, Turkey
  • d Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, World Health Organisation, Geneve, Switzerland
  • e Department of Psychology, Istanbul Sehir Universitesi, Istanbul, Turkey
  • f Department of Nursing Science, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
  • g Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Wien, Austria
  • h Health Sciences, University of York, York, United Kingdom
  • i Department of Human Neurosciences, University of Rome la Sapienza, Roma, Lazio, Italy
  • j IFRC Reference Centre for Psychosocial Support, Danish Red Cross, Copenhagen, Denmark
  • k University of York, York, United Kingdom
  • l Department of Psychology, Istanbul Sehir Universitesi, Istanbul, Turkey
  • m IFRC Reference Centre for Psychosocial Support, Danish Red Cross, Copenhagen, Denmark
  • n Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York, United Kingdom
  • o Department of Psychology, Istanbul Sehir Universitesi, Istanbul, Turkey
  • p Department of Psychiatry II, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
  • q Cochrane Global Mental Health, Verona, Italy, Department of Psychiatry II, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
  • r Department of Nursing Science, Turun Yliopisto, Turku, Finland
  • s Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy, Cochrane Global Mental Health, Verona, Italy
  • t Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy, Cochrane Global Mental Health, Verona, Italy
  • u Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy, Cochrane Global Mental Health, Verona, Italy
  • v Institute of Life and Human Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
  • w Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • x Department of Human Neurosciences, University of Rome la Sapienza, Roma, Lazio, Italy
  • y Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
  • z Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy, Cochrane Global Mental Health, Verona, Italy
  • a Trauma and Disaster Mental Health, Istanbul Bilgi Universitesi, Istanbul, Turkey
  • b Department of Nursing Science, University of Turku, Turku, Finland, School of Nursing, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong
  • c Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Division of Social Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
  • d Institute of Life and Human Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
  • e Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
  • f Department of Clinical Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • g Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy, Cochrane Global Mental Health, Verona, Italy
  • h Department of Mental Health and Substance Dependence, World Health Organisation, Geneva, Switzerland

Abstract

Introduction This article describes two randomised controlled trials that will evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of Self-Help Plus (SH+), a group self-help intervention developed by the WHO to reduce distress. In these trials SH+ is being tested as a preventative intervention to lower the incidence of mental disorders in asylum seekers and refugees with psychological distress resettled in Europe and Turkey. Methods and analysis Two prospective, multicentre, randomised, rater-blinded, parallel-group studies will follow participants over a period of 12 months. One trial will be conducted in Europe and one in Turkey. In each trial, 600 asylum seekers and refugees screening positive on the General Health Questionnaire (≥3), but without a formal diagnosis of any mental disorders according to the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview, will be randomly allocated to SH+or to enhanced treatment-as-usual. The primary outcome will be a lower incidence of mental disorders at 6 month follow-up. Secondary outcomes will include the evaluation of psychological symptoms, functioning, well-being, treatment acceptability and indicators of intervention cost-effectiveness. Ethics and dissemination The two trials received ethical clearance from the local Ethics Committees of the participating sites (seven sites), as well as from the WHO Ethics Committee. All participants will provide informed consent before screening and before study inclusion (a two-step procedure). The results of the trials will be disseminated in agreement with a dissemination plan that includes publication(s) in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at relevant national and international conferences and meetings. Trials registration numbers NCT03571347, NCT03587896. © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2019. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ.

Author Keywords

Asylum seekers Randomized controlled trials psychosocial interventions Refugees Global mental health

Index Keywords

clinical outcome depression refugee anxiety disorder multicenter study Europe follow up human single blind procedure controlled study Turkey (republic) randomized controlled trial mini international neuropsychiatric interview mental disease asylum seeker health care cost female preventive health service Patient Health Questionnaire 9 Incidence Article functional status major clinical study adult posttraumatic stress disorder distress syndrome General Health Questionnaire psychological well-being world health organization mental capacity program acceptability therapy effect World Health Organization 5 item European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions 3 Level questionnaire European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions questionnaire self help plus cost effectiveness analysis quality of life assessment self help
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85065927898&doi=10.1136%2fbmjopen-2019-030259&partnerID=40&md5=764e1d47d93cbc75775d585fd2e1368e
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-030259
ISSN: 20446055
Original Language: English