Self-Help Plus for refugees and asylum seekers: an individual participant data meta-analysis

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Eirini Karyotaki - , Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU) (Author)
  • Marit Sijbrandij - , Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU) (Author)
  • Marianna Purgato - , University of Verona (Author)
  • Ceren Acarturk - , Koc University (Author)
  • Daniel Lakin - , Johns Hopkins University (Author)
  • Della Bailey - , New York University (Author)
  • Emily Peckham - , New York University (Author)
  • Ersin Uygun - , Istanbul Bilgi University (Author)
  • Federico Tedeschi - , University of Verona (Author)
  • Johannes Wancata - , Medical University of Vienna (Author)
  • Jura Augustinavicius - , Johns Hopkins University (Author)
  • Kenneth Carswell - , World Health Organization (Author)
  • Maritta Välimäki - , University of Turku (Author)
  • Mark van Ommeren - , World Health Organization (Author)
  • Markus Koesters - , Ulm University (Author)
  • Mariana Popa - , Queen's University Belfast (Author)
  • Marx Ronald Leku - , HealthRight Uganda (Author)
  • Minna Anttila - , University of Turku (Author)
  • Rachel Churchill - , New York University (Author)
  • Ross G White - , Queen's University Belfast (Author)
  • Sarah Al-Hashimi - , Medical University of Vienna (Author)
  • Tella Lantta - , University of Turku (Author)
  • Teresa Au - , World Health Organization (Author)
  • Thomas Klein - , Ulm University (Author)
  • Wietse A Tol - , Central South University (Author)
  • Pim Cuijpers - , Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU) (Author)
  • Corrado Barbui - , University of Verona (Author)

Abstract

QUESTION: Refugees and asylum seekers are at high risk of mental disorders due to various stressors before, during and after forceful displacement. The WHO Self-Help Plus (SH+) intervention was developed to manage psychological distress and a broad range of mental health symptoms in vulnerable populations. This study aimed to examine the effects and moderators of SH+ compared with Enhanced Care as Usual (ECAU) in reducing depressive symptoms among refugees and asylum seekers.

STUDY SELECTION AND ANALYSIS: Three randomised trials were identified with 1795 individual participant data (IPD). We performed an IPD meta-analysis to estimate the effects of SH+, primarily on depressive symptoms and second on post-traumatic stress, well-being, self-identified problems and functioning. Effects were also estimated at 5-6 months postrandomisation (midterm).

FINDINGS: There was no evidence of a difference between SH+ and ECAU+ in reducing depressive symptoms at postintervention. However, SH+ had significantly larger effects among participants who were not employed (β=1.60, 95% CI 0.20 to 3.00) and had lower mental well-being levels (β=0.02, 95% CI 0.001 to 0.05). At midterm, SH+ was significantly more effective than ECAU in improving depressive symptoms (β=-1.13, 95% CI -1.99 to -0.26), self-identified problems (β=-1.56, 95% CI -2.54 to -0.59) and well-being (β=6.22, 95% CI 1.60 to 10.90).

CONCLUSIONS: Although SH+ did not differ significantly from ECAU in reducing symptoms of depression at postintervention, it did present benefits for particularly vulnerable participants (ie, unemployed and with lower mental well-being levels), and benefits were also evident at midterm follow-up. These results are promising for the use of SH+ in the management of depressive symptoms and improvement of well-being and self-identified problems among refugees and asylum seekers.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere300672
JournalBMJ mental health
Volume26
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2023
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

External IDs

PubMedCentral PMC10391800
Scopus 85167514720
ORCID /0000-0001-7018-6021/work/149081652

Keywords

Keywords

  • Humans, Refugees/psychology, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/therapy, Mental Health, Health Behavior, Psychological Well-Being