Improving outcomes for caregivers through treatment of young people affected by war: a randomized controlled trial in Sierra Leone
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Improving outcomes for caregivers through treatment of young people affected by war: a randomized controlled trial in Sierra Leone
| Title: | Improving outcomes for caregivers through treatment of young people affected by war: a randomized controlled trial in Sierra Leone |
| Author: |
McBain, Ryan K; Salhi, Carmel; Hann, Katrina; Kellie, Jim; Kamara, Alimamy; Salomon, Joshua A; Kim, Jane J; Betancourt, Theresa S
Note: Order does not necessarily reflect citation order of authors. |
| Citation: | McBain, Ryan K, Carmel Salhi, Katrina Hann, Jim Kellie, Alimamy Kamara, Joshua A Salomon, Jane J Kim, and Theresa S Betancourt. 2015. “Improving outcomes for caregivers through treatment of young people affected by war: a randomized controlled trial in Sierra Leone.” Bulletin of the World Health Organization 93 (12): 834-841. doi:10.2471/BLT.14.139105. http://dx.doi.org/10.2471/BLT.14.139105. |
| Full Text & Related Files: |
4669723.pdf (765.4Kb; PDF) 
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| Abstract: | Abstract Objective: To measure the benefits to household caregivers of a psychotherapeutic intervention for adolescents and young adults living in a war-affected area. Methods: Between July 2012 and July 2013, we carried out a randomized controlled trial of the Youth Readiness Intervention – a cognitive–behavioural intervention for war-affected young people who exhibit depressive and anxiety symptoms and conduct problems – in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Overall, 436 participants aged 15–24 years were randomized to receive the intervention (n = 222) or care as usual (n = 214). Household caregivers for the participants in the intervention arm (n = 101) or control arm (n = 103) were interviewed during a baseline survey and again, if available (n = 155), 12 weeks later in a follow-up survey. We used a burden assessment scale to evaluate the burden of care placed on caregivers in terms of emotional distress and functional impairment. The caregivers’ mental health – i.e. internalizing, externalizing and prosocial behaviour – was evaluated using the Oxford Measure of Psychosocial Adjustment. Difference-in-differences multiple regression analyses were used, within an intention-to-treat framework, to estimate the treatment effects. Findings: Compared with the caregivers of participants of the control group, the caregivers of participants of the intervention group reported greater reductions in emotional distress (scale difference: 0.252; 95% confidence interval, CI: 0.026–0.4782) and greater improvements in prosocial behaviour (scale difference: 0.249; 95% CI: 0.012–0.486) between the two surveys. Conclusion: A psychotherapeutic intervention for war-affected young people can improve the mental health of their caregivers. |
| Published Version: | doi:10.2471/BLT.14.139105 |
| Other Sources: | http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4669723/pdf/ |
| Terms of Use: | This article is made available under the terms and conditions applicable to Other Posted Material, as set forth at http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:dash.current.terms-of-use#LAA |
| Citable link to this page: | http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:23993688 |
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