Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
N/A
Study information
Scientific title
Locally adapted problem-solving therapy for depression and common mental disorders in primary care in Zimbabwe delivered through lay workers and a Friendship Bench: a pilot study
Acronym
The Friendship Bench Project
Study hypothesis
There is very limited evidence that sustainable interventions for depression and other common mental disorders (CMD) can be integrated into routine primary health care in Africa. In primary care clinics serving a high density suburb in Harare, a low-cost multi-component 'Friendship Bench Intervention' for CMD, based on problem-solving therapy, was developed to be delivered by trained and supervised female lay workers who were already respected in the community for their outreach role in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), tuberculosis (TB) and health promotion. Our aim was to explore the potential of integrating this low-intensity mental health intervention into the work load of lay workers.
Outcomes included the number of people referred to the service and the number seen by the lay workers, qualitative data from layworkers on the acceptability and feasibility to them of providing this as part of their work load and participant scores pre-post problem solving therapy on the Shona Symptom Questionnaire for common mental health symptoms.
Ethics approval
Medical Research Council of Zimbabwe (MRCZ) REC approved on the 10th August 2006 (ref: MRCZ/A/1307)
Study design
Observational cross-sectional pilot cohort study
Primary study design
Observational
Secondary study design
Cross-section survey
Trial setting
Other
Trial type
Quality of life
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Condition
Depression and common mental disorders
Intervention
All individuals attending a local clinic who were identified by the local nursing staff as needing psychological care were referred to the 'Friendship Bench', a problem solving therapy based intervention run by lay health works supervised by a clinical psychologist and psychiatrist. initially all those referred were screened using a locally validated indigenous screening tool, the SSQ. All scoring above the cut-off score of 8+ received six sessions of problem solving therapy delivered over a six week period. All those identified as having severe depression were referred to the psychiatric hospital.
Intervention type
Other
Phase
Not Applicable
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
Shona Symptom Questionnaire (SSQ) score after six sessions of problem solving therapy delivered through the friendship bench.
Secondary outcome measures
No secondary outcome measures
Overall trial start date
01/01/2007
Overall trial end date
30/12/2009
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Residents of Mbare
2. Aged 16 years and over, either sex
3. Gave written informed consent. Those who were unable to give informed consent but needed mental health services were referred to the clinical psychologist or psychiatrist and their data was not included in the analysis.
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Adult
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
973
Total final enrolment
355
Participant exclusion criteria
1. Client requires acute medical attention such that they cannot participate in screening
2. Severe depression with risk features as diagnosed by primary care nurse
Recruitment start date
01/01/2007
Recruitment end date
30/12/2009
Locations
Countries of recruitment
Zimbabwe
Trial participating centre
37 Baines Ave
Harare
CY 105
Zimbabwe
Funders
Funder type
Research organisation
Funder name
Counseling Services Unit (Zimbabwe)
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Not provided at time of registration
Intention to publish date
Participant level data
Not provided at time of registration
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list
2011 results in https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22029430/ (added 18/12/2020)