Effectiveness of Self-Help Plus in Preventing Mental Disorders in Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Western Europe: A Multinational Randomized Controlled Trial

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Purgato, Marianna, Carswell, Kenneth, Tedeschi, Federico, Acarturk, Ceren, Anttila, Minna, Au, Teresa, Bajbouj, Malek, Baumgartner, Josef, Biondi, Massimo, Churchill, Rachel et al (show 20 more authors) , Cuijpers, Pim, Koesters, Markus, Gastaldon, Chiara, Ilkkursun, Zeynep, Lantta, Tella, Nosè, Michela, Ostuzzi, Giovanni, Papola, Davide, Popa, Mariana, Roselli, Valentina, Sijbrandij, Marit, Tarsitani, Lorenzo, Turrini, Giulia, Välimäki, Maritta, Walker, Lauren, Wancata, Johannes, Zanini, Elisa, White, Ross ORCID: 0000-0003-4026-6439, van Ommeren, Mark and Barbui, Corrado (2021) Effectiveness of Self-Help Plus in Preventing Mental Disorders in Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Western Europe: A Multinational Randomized Controlled Trial. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 90 (6). pp. 1-12. ISSN 0033-3190, 1423-0348

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Abstract

<jats:p>&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Introduction:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; Self-Help Plus (SH+) is a group-based psychological intervention developed by the World Health Organization for managing stress. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Objective:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; To assess the effectiveness of SH+ in preventing mental disorders in refugees and asylum seekers in Western Europe. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Methods:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; We conducted a randomized controlled trial in 5 European countries. Refugees and asylum seekers with psychological distress (General Health Questionnaire score ≥3), but without a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5) or ICD/10 diagnosis of mental disorder, as assessed with the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), were randomized to SH+ or enhanced treatment as usual (ETAU). The primary outcome was the frequency of mental disorders with the MINI at 6 months. Secondary outcomes included the frequency of mental disorders at postintervention, self-identified problems, psychological symptoms, and other outcomes. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Results:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; Four hundred fifty-nine individuals were randomly assigned to SH+ or ETAU. For the primary outcome, we found no difference in the frequency of mental disorders at 6 months (Cramer &lt;i&gt;V&lt;/i&gt; = 0.007, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; = 0.90, RR = 0.96; 95% CI 0.52–1.78), while the difference significantly favored SH+ at after the intervention (secondary outcome, measured within 2 weeks from the last session; Cramer &lt;i&gt;V&lt;/i&gt; = 0.13, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; = 0.01, RR = 0.50; 95% CI 0.29–0.87). &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Conclusions:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; This is the first randomized indicated prevention study with the aim of preventing the onset of mental disorders in asylum seekers and refugees in Western Europe. As a prevention effect of SH+ was not observed at 6 months, but rather after the intervention only, modalities to maintain its beneficial effect in the long term need to be identified. </jats:p>

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Randomized controlled trial, Psychological stress, Psychological well-being, Psychological trauma, Adult, Refugees, Asylum seekers, Self-Help Plus
Divisions:	Faculty of Health and Life Sciences Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Population Health
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	06 Aug 2021 07:00
Last Modified:	06 Dec 2024 20:03
DOI:	10.1159/000517504
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3132506