Turrini, G, Purgato, M, Tedeschi, F, Acarturk, C, Anttila, M, Au, T, Carswell, K, Churchill, R, Cuijpers, P, Friedrich, F et al (show 19 more authors)
(2022)
Long-term effectiveness of Self-Help Plus in refugees and asylum seekers resettled in Western Europe: 12-month outcomes of a randomised controlled trial.
EPIDEMIOLOGY AND PSYCHIATRIC SCIENCES, 31.
e39-.
Abstract
<h4>Aims</h4>As refugees and asylum seekers are at high risk of developing mental disorders, we assessed the effectiveness of Self-Help Plus (SH + ), a psychological intervention developed by the World Health Organization, in reducing the risk of developing any mental disorders at 12-month follow-up in refugees and asylum seekers resettled in Western Europe.<h4>Methods</h4>Refugees and asylum seekers with psychological distress (General Health Questionnaire-12 ⩾ 3) but without a mental disorder according to the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.) were randomised to either SH + or enhanced treatment as usual (ETAU). The frequency of mental disorders at 12 months was measured with the M.I.N.I., while secondary outcomes included self-identified problems, psychological symptoms and other outcomes.<h4>Results</h4>Of 459 participants randomly assigned to SH + or ETAU, 246 accepted to be interviewed at 12 months. No difference in the frequency of any mental disorders was found (relative risk [RR] = 0.841; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.389-1.819; <i>p</i>-value = 0.659). In the per protocol (PP) population, that is in participants attending at least three group-based sessions, SH + almost halved the frequency of mental disorders at 12 months compared to ETAU, however so few participants and events contributed to this analysis that it yielded a non-significant result (RR = 0.528; 95% CI 0.180-1.544; <i>p</i>-value = 0.230). SH + was associated with improvements at 12 months in psychological distress (<i>p</i>-value = 0.004), depressive symptoms (<i>p</i>-value = 0.011) and wellbeing (<i>p</i>-value = 0.001).<h4>Conclusions</h4>The present study failed to show any long-term preventative effect of SH + in refugees and asylum seekers resettled in Western European countries. Analysis of the PP population and of secondary outcomes provided signals of a potential effect of SH + in the long-term, which would suggest the value of exploring the effects of booster sessions and strategies to increase SH + adherence.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Prevention, psychosocial intervention, randomised controlled trial, refugees |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Health and Life Sciences Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Population Health |
| Depositing User: | Symplectic Admin |
| Date Deposited: | 09 Sep 2022 08:42 |
| Last Modified: | 18 Jan 2023 20:45 |
| DOI: | 10.1017/S2045796022000269 |
| Open Access URL: | http://doi.org/10.1017/S2045796022000269 |
| Related URLs: | |
| URI: | https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3163985 |
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